Retrosheet


The Value Added Approach to Evaluating Performance

The Introduction

Gary R. Skoog wrote an essay in the 1987 Bill James Abstract called "Measuring Runs Created: The Value Added Approach" which used the play-by-play data being kept by Project Scoresheet to evaluate the offensive contribution of each player. (To read the original article, click here.) In order to calculate the value of each play, he borrowed an idea from Pete Palmer (in The Hidden Game of Baseball) and first determined the number of runs an average team could be expected to score during the rest of an inning from each of the 24 possible game situations (0, 1 or 2 outs and all 8 combinations of runners aboard). For example, the table for the 1992 American League looks like this:

    MenOn     Number of Outs
     FST       0      1      2
     ---    .482   .258   .096
     x--    .853   .510   .211
     -x-   1.095   .646   .293
     xx-   1.494   .907   .423
     --x   1.356   .940   .377
     x-x   1.804  1.151   .470
     -xx   2.169  1.418   .598
     xxx   2.429  1.549   .745

All of the tables are here.

He next sets the value of each offensive play equal to:

    ( run-scored-on-play + exp-runs(end) ) - exp-runs(start)

For example, a home run with no out and none on would have a value of (not too surprisingly) 1 run ( 1 + .482 - .482), while a strikeout in the same situation would have a value of -.224 ( 0 + .258 - .482). In general, it asks the question: did the play leave the inning in better or worse shape than it found it?

I like this method because it takes into account a lot of what are traditionally thought of as intangibles. For example, a hitter gets credit for making more productive outs as well as for clutch performance (a single with the bases loaded and two outs that scores a pair has a value of 1.678; with the bases empty the value of a single drops to .115). It will produce results different from a good linear weight formula for two basic reasons: 1) it will include some stats (like pickoffs and reached on error) that aren't typically available and so aren't part of most linear weight formulas, and 2) it includes the context (men on and number of outs) associated with each event, factors which help determine their importance.

I would like to point out a few problems with this approach. For one thing, it assumes that the expected runs from each situation is independent of the hitters coming to the plate. Lineups are not homogenous and the true value of an event depends upon many factors, including the quality of the batters due up, the pitcher on the mound, and the handedness of these players. Another thing we ought to keep in mind is that this analysis doesn't take into account one-run strategies. Sacrifices are almost always bad plays according to the Value Added method. Despite the fact that sacrifices look bad from the point of view of trying to maximize your team's total runs, it often increases the possibility of scoring a single run, and sometimes one run is all you need.

The rest of this article will attempt to apply the Value Added method to all facets of on-field performance except fielding. It will use play-by-play data from the American and National Leagues from 1960 to 2004. I will explain how I applied this methodology to each aspect of the game and will compare its results to those produced by other approaches to see if VA gives us any insights that might not be possible otherwise. Finally, I will discuss what place VA should have in our tool-kit of analytical methods.

Missing Games

This article is an updated version of one that appeared in the 2000 edition of the Big Bad Baseball Annual. At that time, I displayed Value Added data from 1980 to 1998. The good news is that we now have more than twice as many years to include. The bad news is that we do not have complete play-by-play data for all of these years. So before proceeding, we need to come up with some way of dealing with the missing games. For those games, we still have each player's official batting line. But while we know how many hits, walks and so on each player had in these games, we don't know the context and so can't really do the level of analysis we had planned for those games.

What I decided to do in these cases is to determine an average value for each type of play in the league that season and credit the player for those values. For example, here are the average values for plays in the 1963 NL:

    Play                     Value
    Single                    .431
    Double                    .729
    Triple                    .967
    Home Run                 1.416
    Non-Intentional Walk      .279
    Intentional Walk          .163
    Hit By Pitch              .295
    Sacrifice Hit            -.056
    Sacrifice Fly             .052
    Grounded into DP         -.688
    Strikeout                -.238
    Other Out                -.200
    Stolen Base               .205
    Caught Stealing          -.395

This is simply a linear weight system, but the linear weights are derived from Value Added data. Here are the weights for all the years:

Year LG      1B     2B     3B     HR   NIBB    IBB    HBP     SH     SF    GDP     SO   OOUT     SB     CS
1960 AL    .464   .765   .992  1.419   .298   .150   .324  -.061   .003  -.775  -.268  -.233   .215  -.397
1961 AL    .469   .755  1.053  1.415   .316   .165   .357  -.061  -.059  -.811  -.282  -.237   .203  -.403
1962 AL    .467   .743   .972  1.419   .315   .207   .347  -.088  -.018  -.778  -.277  -.236   .186  -.441
1963 AL    .448   .733  1.019  1.380   .291   .166   .310  -.054   .006  -.730  -.253  -.216   .220  -.421
1964 AL    .439   .693   .986  1.388   .286   .148   .304  -.040   .026  -.717  -.248  -.211   .180  -.409
1965 AL    .434   .687   .984  1.403   .265   .163   .280  -.023   .130  -.685  -.237  -.204   .196  -.405
1966 AL    .440   .691   .950  1.398   .290   .208   .319  -.087   .052  -.702  -.239  -.202   .181  -.415
1967 AL    .444   .736  1.020  1.379   .284   .157   .301  -.051   .050  -.690  -.238  -.198   .229  -.390
1968 AL    .418   .670   .863  1.388   .262   .145   .273  -.054   .128  -.642  -.214  -.182   .193  -.389
1969 AL    .450   .727  1.067  1.399   .309   .225   .336  -.102   .046  -.747  -.256  -.219   .193  -.400
1970 AL    .441   .745  1.000  1.414   .286   .141   .336  -.074   .034  -.721  -.259  -.217   .201  -.398
1971 AL    .438   .718  1.002  1.408   .281   .148   .321  -.062   .024  -.701  -.243  -.207   .188  -.380
1972 AL    .421   .701   .990  1.444   .266   .165   .294  -.037   .111  -.656  -.223  -.189   .197  -.362
1973 AL    .460   .758  1.001  1.421   .301   .201   .307  -.042  -.002  -.766  -.272  -.228   .214  -.408
1974 AL    .455   .771  1.020  1.417   .301   .156   .306  -.047   .010  -.744  -.263  -.222   .224  -.417
1975 AL    .456   .785  1.012  1.414   .288   .171   .310  -.033   .019  -.759  -.272  -.228   .222  -.419
1976 AL    .449   .772  1.074  1.430   .293   .163   .331  -.083   .041  -.726  -.262  -.216   .214  -.395
1977 AL    .453   .752   .962  1.385   .288   .172   .307  -.059   .037  -.776  -.279  -.236   .221  -.419
1978 AL    .457   .735  1.022  1.399   .306   .186   .318  -.084  -.008  -.774  -.269  -.227   .190  -.406
1979 AL    .467   .774  1.042  1.401   .312   .246   .360  -.069  -.071  -.826  -.291  -.247   .217  -.433
1980 AL    .460   .782  1.082  1.403   .305   .194   .343  -.075  -.056  -.795  -.282  -.238   .220  -.446
1981 AL    .452   .756  1.029  1.421   .293   .152   .326  -.061  -.002  -.727  -.257  -.219   .200  -.419
1982 AL    .460   .765  1.055  1.407   .300   .133   .316  -.086  -.040  -.791  -.280  -.237   .198  -.439
1983 AL    .469   .769  1.097  1.387   .315   .201   .331  -.070  -.088  -.815  -.282  -.239   .205  -.458
1984 AL    .454   .756  1.103  1.411   .311   .198   .329  -.067  -.017  -.802  -.275  -.234   .201  -.432
1985 AL    .458   .792  1.095  1.403   .300   .157   .322  -.056  -.063  -.800  -.281  -.240   .221  -.424
1986 AL    .470   .765  1.033  1.384   .314   .165   .325  -.081  -.027  -.815  -.283  -.245   .182  -.456
1987 AL    .477   .774   .967  1.379   .323   .177   .350  -.101  -.031  -.853  -.298  -.257   .186  -.456
1988 AL    .468   .776  1.027  1.381   .315   .171   .347  -.105  -.077  -.810  -.274  -.235   .185  -.433
1989 AL    .467   .764  1.015  1.395   .305   .181   .337  -.095  -.008  -.797  -.269  -.230   .197  -.427
1990 AL    .462   .770  1.099  1.396   .299   .160   .316  -.035  -.036  -.765  -.272  -.232   .201  -.426
1991 AL    .469   .778  1.112  1.426   .312   .176   .343  -.079  -.026  -.792  -.278  -.241   .190  -.456
1992 AL    .460   .763  1.081  1.416   .307   .174   .332  -.082  -.079  -.784  -.272  -.231   .178  -.422
1993 AL    .480   .766  1.085  1.411   .320   .183   .323  -.100  -.084  -.831  -.292  -.250   .190  -.425
1994 AL    .489   .790  1.056  1.399   .333   .191   .367  -.113  -.089  -.887  -.312  -.272   .195  -.479
1995 AL    .496   .769  1.079  1.411   .337   .209   .366  -.156  -.106  -.888  -.312  -.270   .191  -.480
1996 AL    .492   .818  1.093  1.404   .345   .220   .368  -.153  -.094  -.919  -.325  -.285   .202  -.478
1997 AL    .474   .765  1.059  1.400   .323   .236   .344  -.151  -.058  -.871  -.302  -.260   .179  -.445
1998 AL    .481   .789   .989  1.392   .326   .213   .341  -.113  -.043  -.892  -.303  -.264   .169  -.456
1999 AL    .493   .799  1.055  1.416   .330   .181   .358  -.115  -.149  -.905  -.322  -.277   .175  -.481
2000 AL    .496   .772  1.074  1.407   .353   .229   .382  -.134  -.126  -.920  -.322  -.282   .152  -.478
2001 AL    .461   .772  1.095  1.391   .312   .192   .351  -.091  -.076  -.841  -.292  -.253   .182  -.437
2002 AL    .499   .748  1.016  1.396   .345   .208   .368  -.158  -.062  -.878  -.299  -.261   .163  -.483
2003 AL    .478   .782  1.026  1.382   .332   .185   .358  -.090  -.100  -.866  -.295  -.259   .189  -.427
2004 AL    .478   .803   .996  1.397   .333   .209   .351  -.123  -.096  -.891  -.302  -.265   .178  -.452
 
Where: NIBB - unintentional walks
       IBB  - intentional walks
       OOUT - other outs (not strikeouts or grounded into double-plays)
Year LG      1B     2B     3B     HR   NIBB    IBB    HBP     SH     SF    GDP     SO   OOUT     SB     CS
1960 NL    .453   .759   .943  1.394   .300   .183   .314  -.066  -.023  -.741  -.260  -.221   .184  -.372
1961 NL    .450   .751  1.100  1.405   .302   .201   .332  -.082  -.035  -.764  -.275  -.235   .201  -.371
1962 NL    .468   .750  1.028  1.411   .300   .159   .321  -.056  -.044  -.776  -.274  -.234   .198  -.386
1963 NL    .431   .729   .967  1.416   .279   .163   .295  -.056   .052  -.688  -.238  -.200   .205  -.395
1964 NL    .455   .711  1.013  1.416   .298   .201   .349  -.062   .044  -.738  -.251  -.213   .183  -.381
1965 NL    .444   .753   .980  1.387   .282   .119   .290  -.064   .041  -.716  -.249  -.209   .208  -.396
1966 NL    .433   .732   .909  1.420   .278   .141   .310  -.031   .074  -.717  -.248  -.212   .192  -.375
1967 NL    .438   .768   .985  1.401   .262   .106   .270  -.044   .076  -.690  -.240  -.201   .236  -.401
1968 NL    .423   .708   .881  1.392   .261   .150   .266  -.059   .111  -.669  -.216  -.181   .191  -.346
1969 NL    .464   .741  1.006  1.401   .314   .184   .334  -.085   .044  -.763  -.257  -.219   .182  -.416
1970 NL    .465   .770   .992  1.428   .306   .166   .325  -.079   .016  -.790  -.279  -.236   .209  -.408
1971 NL    .446   .714   .951  1.416   .307   .217   .345  -.083   .037  -.717  -.248  -.212   .172  -.390
1972 NL    .447   .719  1.041  1.407   .288   .115   .280  -.093   .012  -.725  -.245  -.207   .191  -.401
1973 NL    .452   .738  1.017  1.405   .304   .171   .319  -.088   .006  -.745  -.257  -.219   .186  -.431
1974 NL    .456   .752   .971  1.448   .304   .176   .346  -.104  -.030  -.770  -.260  -.221   .187  -.440
1975 NL    .457   .739  1.020  1.414   .295   .153   .311  -.109   .080  -.757  -.260  -.221   .185  -.418
1976 NL    .463   .732  1.019  1.430   .310   .191   .352  -.092  -.023  -.763  -.255  -.216   .183  -.426
1977 NL    .450   .715  1.009  1.436   .305   .212   .328  -.123   .010  -.808  -.270  -.229   .176  -.429
1978 NL    .435   .734  1.014  1.430   .276   .129   .315  -.079   .074  -.729  -.251  -.213   .205  -.416
1979 NL    .462   .746   .988  1.399   .307   .185   .345  -.077   .018  -.776  -.268  -.228   .195  -.436
1980 NL    .441   .720  1.006  1.409   .278   .164   .292  -.084   .030  -.740  -.250  -.213   .196  -.449
1981 NL    .441   .733  1.044  1.385   .292   .197   .312  -.079   .001  -.747  -.248  -.208   .187  -.418
1982 NL    .453   .722  1.014  1.416   .292   .172   .330  -.101   .027  -.753  -.257  -.215   .172  -.445
1983 NL    .440   .754  1.008  1.399   .279   .120   .300  -.099   .069  -.733  -.254  -.214   .195  -.433
1984 NL    .445   .749  1.046  1.405   .286   .150   .325  -.071  -.003  -.753  -.252  -.213   .202  -.431
1985 NL    .437   .763  1.060  1.418   .282   .117   .294  -.055  -.040  -.746  -.253  -.214   .228  -.420
1986 NL    .440   .729  1.011  1.407   .274   .136   .311  -.077   .063  -.739  -.254  -.216   .195  -.414
1987 NL    .449   .749  1.013  1.397   .285   .142   .311  -.111   .050  -.785  -.272  -.232   .182  -.431
1988 NL    .441   .750  1.007  1.374   .280   .145   .315  -.093   .051  -.732  -.242  -.207   .197  -.405
1989 NL    .446   .733  1.044  1.404   .289   .168   .315  -.112   .027  -.758  -.247  -.209   .182  -.428
1990 NL    .463   .737  1.060  1.381   .300   .174   .316  -.139  -.003  -.788  -.261  -.224   .168  -.436
1991 NL    .448   .750  1.082  1.404   .289   .123   .310  -.120   .030  -.743  -.253  -.216   .190  -.418
1992 NL    .431   .737  1.066  1.415   .280   .143   .297  -.107   .043  -.738  -.245  -.207   .181  -.378
1993 NL    .452   .768  1.121  1.395   .306   .178   .322  -.103  -.018  -.800  -.275  -.235   .205  -.446
1994 NL    .445   .770  1.071  1.397   .286   .092   .314  -.140   .042  -.793  -.279  -.238   .198  -.433
1995 NL    .466   .764  1.064  1.396   .312   .196   .337  -.142   .006  -.810  -.281  -.244   .199  -.450
1996 NL    .476   .748  1.116  1.401   .326   .224   .368  -.162  -.046  -.842  -.287  -.243   .166  -.461
1997 NL    .458   .754  1.105  1.383   .302   .162   .335  -.115  -.017  -.824  -.278  -.241   .178  -.445
1998 NL    .460   .770  1.039  1.405   .312   .168   .327  -.157  -.040  -.817  -.277  -.240   .170  -.448
1999 NL    .463   .779  1.050  1.399   .306   .154   .331  -.126  -.039  -.836  -.298  -.257   .194  -.443
2000 NL    .469   .758  1.090  1.404   .324   .172   .351  -.170  -.020  -.862  -.300  -.258   .163  -.472
2001 NL    .460   .784  1.067  1.369   .299   .154   .323  -.124  -.074  -.832  -.284  -.245   .191  -.450
2002 NL    .439   .761  1.076  1.396   .283   .157   .319  -.120   .019  -.779  -.268  -.233   .184  -.418
2003 NL    .457   .768  1.121  1.397   .304   .154   .329  -.137  -.045  -.817  -.282  -.244   .176  -.431
2004 NL    .448   .770  1.078  1.394   .299   .152   .331  -.133  -.041  -.815  -.282  -.244   .177  -.434

I don't know about you, but I was surprised by the variability in the data, most especially with regard to the sacrifice fly. How could the same play have a value of +.130 runs in the 1965 American League and a value of -.149 in the 1999 AL? This seems counter-intuitive. The reason is that the value of trading outs for base advances, especially with regard to runners already in scoring position varies quite a bit from high-scoring to low-scoring eras. In addition, there is some fluctuation in the expected future run data, even with a sample size as large as an entire league season, especially in relatively rare situations. For example, here are the expected runs from two situations: one out with men on second and third, and two out with a man on second, in the American League from 1997 to 2002:

Year LG   1 -st   2 -s-    Value
1997 AL   1.319    .337     .018
1998 AL   1.420    .335    -.085
1999 AL   1.577    .365    -.212
2000 AL   1.547    .331    -.216
2001 AL   1.408    .368    -.040
2002 AL   1.431    .332    -.099

Value is the benefit or cost of moving from the first state to the second (remember, a run must score for this transition to be possible). Notice that the first situation, the rarer men on second and third with one out state, has more variability than the more common second situation

Here is the same table for 1962 to 1967:

Year LG   1 -st   2 -s-    Value
1963 AL   1.324    .314     .010
1964 AL   1.387    .325    -.062
1965 AL   1.136    .323     .187
1966 AL   1.280    .295     .015
1967 AL   1.319    .343     .024
1968 AL   1.142    .294     .152

While there is still quite a bit of variability in the data, the sacrifice fly during these years was much more variable than it was during the high-scoring years above.

Fortunately, we have play-by-play accounts for the overwhelming majority of games. The most games we are missing for any team is 23 for the 1968 Houston Astros, which means that even for our worst team, we still have play-by-play data for over 85% of their games. What follows is a table of all the leagues that are missing games along with the total games played, the games for which we are missing play-by-play data, the percentage of games with play-by-play data, and the number of games missed by each team in the league.

Year LG    G Miss   %     Teams Missing Games
1962 AL  809    5  99.4   LA  A(5) KC  A(5)
1963 AL  808    4  99.5   BOS A(2) LA  A(2) KC  A(4)
Year LG    G Miss   %     Teams Missing Games
1960 NL  619    7  98.9   MIL N(6) CHI N(1) PIT N(7)
1962 NL  812   15  98.2   MIL N(13) CHI N(5) PIT N(12)
1963 NL  811   14  98.3   MIL N(14) CIN N(6) PIT N(8)
1964 NL  812    9  98.9   MIL N(9) CHI N(2) PIT N(7)
1965 NL  813   20  97.5   MIL N(16) CHI N(4) PIT N(20)
1966 NL  809   19  97.7   ATL N(17) CHI N(5) PIT N(16)
1967 NL  810   18  97.8   ATL N(10) HOU N(10) PIT N(16)
1968 NL  813   34  95.8   ATL N(20) HOU N(23) LA  N(3) PIT N(22)
1971 NL  972   15  98.5   ATL N(8) CIN N(3) HOU N(8) MON N(2) SD  N(9)
1972 NL  930    4  99.6   ATL N(3) CIN N(1) HOU N(2) MON N(2)
1973 NL  971    8  99.2   ATL N(7) CIN N(1) HOU N(2) MON N(4) SD  N(2)

Value Added Batting Runs

I determined each player's unadjusted Value Added Batting Runs by applying the formula mentioned in the introduction to their plate appearances. This gave the batter credit for anything that happened whenever that batter either put the ball in play or struck out. So if a batter hit a ground-ball to short and the shortstop booted it, I gave the batter credit for reaching first. I felt that if I was going to penalize a batter for the bad things that happen when he put the ball in play (643 DPs, for example), I should give him credit for the good things as well. Otherwise, the cost of a player's outs could be misrepresented and those with high strikeout totals might look more valuable than they really were. I also felt that a player who consistently reached base on errors was probably more than partly responsible for this. (If interested, please see my article on the subject.) I also gave the batter credit for the good and bad deeds of his baserunners. When a runner went from first to third on a single to left, the batter was given credit. If the runner got thrown out at third, the batter got charged. This is probably a limitation in my approach, but it seemed unreasonable to give the runner credit for additional bases (since it might have been due to where the outfielders were forced to play the batter, or to the speed or the batter - since that single might have been a double for anyone else), and if I didn't credit the runners for successful risks on the basepaths, it didn't seem right to charge them for unsuccessful risks.

The basic approach (simply evaluating the effect of every batting play) gives us the following top 20 seasons of Value Added Batting Runs from 1960 to 2004:

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS  VABR
Barry Bonds       2004 SF  N   373 135 27  3 45 232 1.422 123.2
Barry Bonds       2001 SF  N   476 156 32  2 73 177 1.379 114.7
Barry Bonds       2002 SF  N   403 149 31  2 46 198 1.381 113.7
Todd Helton       2000 COL N   580 216 59  2 42 103 1.162  99.8
Mark McGwire      1998 STL N   509 152 21  0 70 162 1.222  93.0
Barry Bonds       1996 SF  N   517 159 27  3 42 151 1.076  91.8
Jason Giambi      2000 OAK A   510 170 29  1 43 137 1.123  91.2
Mickey Mantle     1961 NY  A   514 163 16  6 54 126 1.135  91.0
Norm Cash         1961 DET A   535 193 22  8 41 124 1.148  89.5
Carl Yastrzemski  1967 BOS A   579 189 31  4 44  91 1.040  87.9
Sammy Sosa        2001 CHI N   577 189 34  5 64 116 1.174  87.5
Carlos Delgado    2000 TOR A   569 196 57  1 41 123 1.134  85.8
Larry Walker      1997 COL N   568 208 46  4 49  78 1.172  85.4
Harmon Killebrew  1969 MIN A   555 153 20  2 49 145 1.011  85.3
Jason Giambi      2001 OAK A   520 178 47  2 38 129 1.137  85.1
Willie McCovey    1969 SF  N   491 157 26  2 45 121 1.108  85.0
Joe Morgan        1976 CIN N   472 151 30  5 27 114 1.020  83.7
Hank Aaron        1963 MIL N   631 201 29  4 44  78  .977  82.1
Edgar Martinez    1995 SEA A   511 182 52  0 29 116 1.107  81.9
Barry Bonds       1993 SF  N   539 181 38  4 46 126 1.136  81.6
 
Where:  AB - at bats      H - hits         2B - doubles
        3B - triples      HR - home runs   BB - walks
        OPS - on-base plus slugging percentage.
        VABR - Value Added Batting Runs

A big turnover from the last time I did this, since only five of these seasons come from 1980 to 1998. One strange thing is the appearance of five seasons from the 1960s and only one from the 1970s and 1980s. And not too surprisingly, Barry Bonds dominates the list, with 5 entries.

The worst hitters over this period:

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS  VABR
Neifi Perez       2002 KC  A   554 131 20  4  3  20  .564 -51.4
Scott Brosius     1997 OAK A   479  97 20  1 11  34  .576 -50.9
Mario Mendoza     1979 SEA A   373  74 10  3  1   9  .466 -48.9
Mike Caruso       1999 CHI A   529 132 11  4  2  20  .577 -47.7
George Wright     1985 TEX A   363  69 13  0  2  25  .483 -47.6
Hal Lanier        1968 SF  N   486 100 14  1  0  12  .461 -44.6
Rob Picciolo      1977 OAK A   419  84 12  3  2   9  .475 -43.4
John Flaherty     1998 TB  A   304  63 11  0  3  22  .534 -43.1
Chris Truby       2002 MON-DET 382  82 18  4  4  10  .552 -43.1
Tommy Helms       1970 CIN N   575 136 21  1  1  21  .543 -43.0

Notice that this list is also dominated by recent hitters. This makes sense. When a lot of runs are being scored in a given year, the cost of an out goes up as well. Compare the 1992 AL expected future runs table at the beginning of the article with the one from 1998:

    MenOn     Number of Outs
     FST       0      1      2
     ---    .561   .303   .112
     x--    .961   .590   .247
     -x-   1.226   .732   .335
     xx-   1.578  1.006   .471
     --x   1.440   .959   .378
     x-x   1.769  1.270   .578
     -xx   2.022  1.420   .620
     xxx   2.305  1.643   .815

A leadoff strikeout in 1992 cost a team -.224 runs (.258 - .482). In 1998, a similar at-bat would cost -.258 runs (.303 - .561), or 15% more.

Notice that 2 of the top 20 seasons were produced by hitters on the Colorado Rockies. So to this basic figure, perhaps we need to make a ballpark adjustment. For each park, I calculated the number of runs scored per 9 innings in the team's home games and divided that by the runs scored per 9 innings in their away games.

The complete single-year park data is here.

Since a lot of variability in park factors from year-to-year seem to be due to relatively small samples sizes, I averaged each park factor over a three year period (giving double weight to the middle year).

The complete averaged park data is here.

These are going to be about twice the distance from 1.00 as most other park factors because the others attempt to account for the fact that half of each team's games are played in other parks. Instead of this, I calculated individual park factors for each player by applying the appropriate factor to each of his plate appearances. For example, if Dante Bichette got up 8 times in 1994 in Mile High Stadium and 2 times in Three Rivers, his park factor would be:

      ( ( 8 * 1.398 ) + ( 2 * 1.028 ) ) / 10 = 1.324
 
Where: 1.398 is the park factor for Mile High Stadium
       1.028 is the park factor for Three Rivers Stadium

One technical note: the Value Added Runs Created listed in my charts are actually the number of runs created above average. In order to apply park factors, these runs have to be converted to total runs created. Gary Skoog has an interesting discussion on the ways to go about doing this in his article in the 1987 Bill James Baseball Abstract. The method I decided upon was to allocate the average (or slightly less than average) number of runs across each team's batters based upon their plate appearances. I added this adjustment to the runs above average, divided by the park factor, and then subtracted out the adjustment.

After I did this, I came up with the following list of top park-adjusted seasons:

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS  VABR   IPF A/BPF
Barry Bonds       2001 SF  N   476 156 32  2 73 177 1.379 114.7  .932 129.0
Barry Bonds       2002 SF  N   403 149 31  2 46 198 1.381 113.7  .957 121.9
Barry Bonds       2004 SF  N   373 135 27  3 45 232 1.422 123.2 1.039 115.9
Barry Bonds       1996 SF  N   517 159 27  3 42 151 1.076  91.8  .965  98.2
Mickey Mantle     1961 NY  A   514 163 16  6 54 126 1.135  91.0  .960  97.9
Jason Giambi      2000 OAK A   510 170 29  1 43 137 1.123  91.2  .974  96.1
Mark McGwire      1998 STL N   509 152 21  0 70 162 1.222  93.0  .992  94.5
Sammy Sosa        2001 CHI N   577 189 34  5 64 116 1.174  87.5  .966  93.6
Barry Bonds       1993 SF  N   539 181 38  4 46 126 1.136  81.6  .968  87.0
Jason Giambi      2001 OAK A   520 178 47  2 38 129 1.137  85.1  .989  86.9
Norm Cash         1961 DET A   535 193 22  8 41 124 1.148  89.5 1.018  86.6
Willie McCovey    1969 SF  N   491 157 26  2 45 121 1.108  85.0  .993  86.1
Tony Gwynn        1997 SD  N   592 220 49  2 17  43  .957  71.6  .933  82.3
Barry Bonds       2003 SF  N   390 133 22  1 45 148 1.278  78.9  .979  82.1
Gary Sheffield    1996 FLA N   519 163 33  1 42 142 1.090  76.9  .969  82.1
Hank Aaron        1963 MIL N   631 201 29  4 44  78  .977  82.1 1.001  82.0
Jim Gentile       1961 BAL A   486 147 25  2 46  96 1.069  76.7  .975  80.5
Reggie Jackson    1969 OAK A   549 151 36  3 47 114 1.018  70.9  .938  80.4
Mickey Mantle     1962 NY  A   377 121 15  1 30 122 1.091  75.1  .962  80.3
Edgar Martinez    1995 SEA A   511 182 52  0 29 116 1.107  81.9 1.010  80.2
 
Where:  IPF   - individual park factor;
        A/BPF - value added runs adjusted by the ballpark factor.

Notice that both of the seasons by Colorado Rockies players are no longer on the list. Here are the top offensive seasons by members of Colorado, along with their ranking before and after the ballpark adjustment:

Name              Year   AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS  VABR   IPF A/BPF BEF  AFT
Todd Helton       2000  580 216 59  2 42 103 1.162  99.8 1.292  57.2   4  145
Larry Walker      1997  568 208 46  4 49  78 1.172  85.4 1.241  53.4  13  188
Todd Helton       2003  583 209 49  5 33 111 1.088  78.2 1.155  56.5  23  152
Todd Helton       2001  587 197 54  2 49  98 1.116  75.1 1.235  44.6  30  386
Todd Helton       2004  547 190 49  2 32 127 1.088  69.0 1.176  46.4  57  330
Larry Walker      2001  497 174 35  3 38  82 1.111  68.4 1.234  41.5  61  488
Larry Walker      1999  438 166 26  4 37  57 1.168  67.4 1.306  36.4  66  727
Andres Galarraga  1996  626 190 39  3 47  40  .958  65.2 1.298  31.1  78 1018
Larry Walker      2002  477 161 40  4 26  65 1.023  60.3 1.188  40.7 115  516
Todd Helton       2002  553 182 39  4 30  99 1.006  58.8 1.188  37.3 130  685
 
Where: BEF - the ranking before the ballpark adjustment
       AFT - the ranking after

So they went from having 8 of the 80 best seasons to not having a single player in the top 100.

The league leaders each year in park-adjusted batting runs:

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS  VABR   IPF A/BPF
Roger Maris       1960 NY  A   499 141 18  7 39  70  .952  53.4  .934  61.8
Mickey Mantle     1961 NY  A   514 163 16  6 54 126 1.135  91.0  .960  97.9
Mickey Mantle     1962 NY  A   377 121 15  1 30 122 1.091  75.1  .962  80.3
Al Kaline         1963 DET A   551 172 24  3 27  54  .889  53.2 1.041  48.6
Mickey Mantle     1964 NY  A   465 141 25  2 35  99 1.015  67.3 1.009  66.2
Tony Oliva        1965 MIN A   576 185 40  5 16  55  .870  50.0 1.033  46.2
Frank Robinson    1966 BAL A   576 182 34  2 49  87 1.047  74.7  .993  75.7
Carl Yastrzemski  1967 BOS A   579 189 31  4 44  91 1.040  87.9 1.117  71.6
Frank Howard      1968 WAS A   598 164 28  3 44  54  .890  46.4  .966  50.2
Reggie Jackson    1969 OAK A   549 151 36  3 47 114 1.018  70.9  .938  80.4
Frank Howard      1970 WAS A   566 160 15  1 44 132  .962  64.6  .959  70.6
Bobby Murcer      1971 NY  A   529 175 25  6 25  91  .969  62.7  .957  68.3
Dick Allen        1972 CHI A   506 156 28  5 37  99 1.023  75.8 1.030  71.9
Reggie Jackson    1973 OAK A   539 158 28  2 32  76  .914  54.9  .930  64.2
Jeff Burroughs    1974 TEX A   554 167 33  2 25  91  .901  50.9  .981  53.3
Fred Lynn         1975 BOS A   528 175 47  7 21  62  .967  58.2 1.101  46.6
Rod Carew         1976 MIN A   605 200 29 12  9  67  .858  46.7 1.021  44.3
Rod Carew         1977 MIN A   616 239 38 16 14  69 1.019  74.6 1.009  73.1
Jim Rice          1978 BOS A   677 213 25 15 46  58  .970  60.4 1.108  46.5
Fred Lynn         1979 BOS A   531 177 42  1 39  82 1.059  61.9 1.072  52.6
George Brett      1980 KC  A   449 175 33  9 24  58 1.118  72.7  .996  73.2
Dwight Evans      1981 BOS A   412 122 19  4 22  85  .937  38.6 1.069  32.5
Robin Yount       1982 MIL A   635 210 46 12 29  54  .957  53.5  .948  61.0
Eddie Murray      1983 BAL A   582 178 30  3 33  86  .930  53.1  .988  54.7
Eddie Murray      1984 BAL A   588 180 26  3 29 107  .918  55.1  .966  59.9
George Brett      1985 KC  A   550 184 38  5 30 103 1.022  59.5  .997  60.0
Wade Boggs        1986 BOS A   580 207 47  2  8 105  .939  58.6 1.002  58.4
Dwight Evans      1987 BOS A   541 165 37  2 34 106  .986  54.5 1.018  52.0
Jose Canseco      1988 OAK A   610 187 34  0 42  78  .959  49.9  .963  55.0
Robin Yount       1989 MIL A   614 195 38  9 21  63  .896  45.7  .978  48.4
Rickey Henderson  1990 OAK A   489 159 33  3 28  97 1.016  42.7  .943  49.3
Frank Thomas      1991 CHI A   559 178 31  2 32 138 1.006  59.6  .988  61.3
Frank Thomas      1992 CHI A   573 185 46  2 24 122  .975  59.5  .980  62.3
Frank Thomas      1993 CHI A   549 174 36  0 41 112 1.033  66.1  .986  68.1
Frank Thomas      1994 CHI A   399 141 34  1 38 109 1.217  63.2  .980  65.9
Edgar Martinez    1995 SEA A   511 182 52  0 29 116 1.107  81.9 1.010  80.2
Frank Thomas      1996 CHI A   527 184 26  0 40 109 1.085  60.6  .953  68.0
Frank Thomas      1997 CHI A   530 184 35  0 35 109 1.067  72.0  .975  75.9
Albert Belle      1998 CHI A   609 200 48  2 49  81 1.055  59.9 1.001  59.7
Manny Ramirez     1999 CLE A   522 174 34  3 44  96 1.105  76.2 1.037  70.4
Jason Giambi      2000 OAK A   510 170 29  1 43 137 1.123  91.2  .974  96.1
Jason Giambi      2001 OAK A   520 178 47  2 38 129 1.137  85.1  .989  86.9
Jim Thome         2002 CLE A   480 146 19  2 52 122 1.122  69.0  .999  69.1
Carlos Delgado    2003 TOR A   570 172 38  1 42 109 1.019  68.7 1.037  63.1
Travis Hafner     2004 CLE A   482 150 41  3 28  68  .993  42.5  .964  46.8
Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS  VABR   IPF A/BPF
Eddie Mathews     1960 MIL N   548 152 19  7 39 111  .948  68.1  .928  79.0
Willie Mays       1961 SF  N   572 176 32  3 40  81  .977  64.8  .984  67.2
Frank Robinson    1962 CIN N   609 208 51  2 39  76 1.045  73.3 1.030  68.8
Hank Aaron        1963 MIL N   631 201 29  4 44  78  .977  82.1 1.001  82.0
Willie Mays       1964 SF  N   578 171 21  9 47  82  .990  64.5 1.008  63.4
Willie Mays       1965 SF  N   558 177 21  3 52  76 1.043  57.6 1.050  51.6
Dick Allen        1966 PHI N   524 166 25 10 40  68 1.027  64.1 1.002  63.9
Roberto Clemente  1967 PIT N   585 209 26 10 23  41  .954  70.6 1.004  70.0
Willie McCovey    1968 SF  N   523 153 16  4 36  72  .923  54.3  .996  54.7
Willie McCovey    1969 SF  N   491 157 26  2 45 121 1.108  85.0  .993  86.1
Willie McCovey    1970 SF  N   495 143 39  2 39 137 1.056  66.1  .996  66.6
Willie Stargell   1971 PIT N   511 151 26  0 48  83 1.026  72.5 1.021  69.7
Joe Morgan        1972 CIN N   552 161 23  4 16 115  .851  68.3  .941  76.9
Willie Stargell   1973 PIT N   522 156 43  3 44  80 1.038  65.4  .966  70.0
Richie Zisk       1974 PIT N   536 168 30  3 17  65  .862  51.7  .968  55.5
Joe Morgan        1975 CIN N   498 163 27  6 17 132  .974  72.3 1.013  70.5
Joe Morgan        1976 CIN N   472 151 30  5 27 114 1.020  83.7 1.028  79.7
Greg Luzinski     1977 PHI N   554 171 35  3 39  80  .988  62.5 1.034  58.0
Dave Parker       1978 PIT N   581 194 32 12 30  57  .979  66.4 1.059  58.9
Dave Winfield     1979 SD  N   597 184 27 10 34  85  .953  57.7  .935  67.0
Mike Schmidt      1980 PHI N   548 157 25  8 48  89 1.004  52.6 1.070  44.7
Mike Schmidt      1981 PHI N   354 112 19  2 31  73 1.080  53.4 1.075  46.6
Pedro Guerrero    1982 LA  N   575 175 27  5 32  65  .914  43.9  .959  48.7
Jose Cruz         1983 HOU N   594 189 28  8 14  65  .848  45.4  .926  54.7
Jose Cruz         1984 HOU N   600 187 28 13 12  73  .842  44.5  .931  53.3
Pedro Guerrero    1985 LA  N   487 156 22  2 33  83  .999  47.5  .934  55.2
Mike Schmidt      1986 PHI N   552 160 29  1 37  89  .937  53.2 1.051  47.2
D. Strawberry     1987 NY  N   532 151 32  5 39  97  .981  62.8  .960  68.6
D. Strawberry     1988 NY  N   543 146 27  3 39  85  .911  42.9  .939  49.9
Will Clark        1989 SF  N   588 196 38  9 23  74  .953  70.0  .973  74.0
Barry Bonds       1990 PIT N   519 156 32  3 33  93  .970  57.7  .969  61.7
Barry Bonds       1991 PIT N   510 149 28  5 25 107  .924  62.4  .982  64.8
Barry Bonds       1992 PIT N   473 147 36  5 34 127 1.080  68.8  .991  70.0
Barry Bonds       1993 SF  N   539 181 38  4 46 126 1.136  81.6  .968  87.0
Jeff Bagwell      1994 HOU N   400 147 32  2 39  65 1.201  62.8  .947  69.6
Barry Bonds       1995 SF  N   506 149 30  7 33 120 1.009  57.6  .977  60.8
Barry Bonds       1996 SF  N   517 159 27  3 42 151 1.076  91.8  .965  98.2
Tony Gwynn        1997 SD  N   592 220 49  2 17  43  .957  71.6  .933  82.3
Mark McGwire      1998 STL N   509 152 21  0 70 162 1.222  93.0  .992  94.5
Jeff Bagwell      1999 HOU N   562 171 35  0 42 149 1.045  69.2  .963  75.3
Jeff Kent         2000 SF  N   587 196 41  7 33  90 1.021  64.7  .938  74.8
Barry Bonds       2001 SF  N   476 156 32  2 73 177 1.379 114.7  .932 129.0
Barry Bonds       2002 SF  N   403 149 31  2 46 198 1.381 113.7  .957 121.9
Barry Bonds       2003 SF  N   390 133 22  1 45 148 1.278  78.9  .979  82.1
Barry Bonds       2004 SF  N   373 135 27  3 45 232 1.422 123.2 1.039 115.9

The league trailers each year in park-adjusted batting runs:

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS  VABR   IPF A/BPF
Ken Hamlin        1960 KC  A   428  96 10  2  2  44  .568 -27.5 1.007 -27.7
Ron Hansen        1961 BAL A   533 132 13  2 12  66  .677 -25.7  .971 -24.3
Luis Aparicio     1962 CHI A   581 140 23  5  7  32  .614 -32.0  .970 -30.8
Jerry Adair       1963 BAL A   382  87 21  3  6   9  .592 -28.4  .943 -27.5
J.C. Martin       1964 CHI A   294  58 10  1  4  16  .520 -24.1  .933 -23.4
Ed Brinkman       1965 WAS A   444  82 13  2  5  38  .508 -24.3  .996 -24.2
Ed Brinkman       1966 WAS A   582 133 18  9  7  29  .589 -20.9  .991 -20.5
Jerry Zimmerman   1967 MIN A   234  39  3  0  1  22  .436 -23.5 1.072 -23.7
Mark Belanger     1968 BAL A   472  98 13  0  2  40  .520 -34.0 1.003 -34.0
Aur. Rodriguez    1969 CAL A   561 130 17  2  7  32  .579 -25.1  .956 -23.2
Horace Clarke     1970 NY  A   686 172 24  2  4  35  .595 -41.1  .952 -39.2
Gene Michael      1971 NY  A   456 102 15  0  3  48  .576 -30.6  .965 -29.8
Rick Auerbach     1972 MIL A   554 121 16  3  2  43  .546 -22.2  .982 -21.5
Tim Johnson       1973 MIL A   465  99 10  2  0  29  .502 -29.7  .974 -29.0
Deron Johnson     1974 3 Teams 351  60  4  2 13  32  .542 -30.1  .974 -29.8
Paul Blair        1975 BAL A   440  96 13  4  5  25  .557 -28.7  .911 -26.2
Paul Blair        1976 BAL A   375  74 16  0  3  22  .509 -33.1  .952 -32.6
Rob Picciolo      1977 OAK A   419  84 12  3  2   9  .475 -43.4  .969 -43.1
Bert Campaneris   1978 TEX A   269  50  5  3  1  20  .483 -27.0  .985 -26.9
Mario Mendoza     1979 SEA A   373  74 10  3  1   9  .466 -48.9 1.029 -48.9
Alfredo Griffin   1980 TOR A   653 166 26 15  2  24  .632 -30.5 1.048 -32.8
Alfredo Griffin   1981 TOR A   388  81 19  6  0  17  .531 -22.9 1.077 -24.4
Alfredo Griffin   1982 TOR A   539 130 20  8  1  22  .583 -29.1 1.096 -32.5
Rich Dauer        1983 BAL A   459 108 19  0  5  47  .615 -30.6  .986 -30.2
Bob Boone         1984 CAL A   450  91 16  1  3  25  .504 -42.2 1.002 -42.2
George Wright     1985 TEX A   363  69 13  0  2  25  .483 -47.6 1.033 -47.6
Tim Hulett        1986 CHI A   520 120 16  5 17  21  .639 -35.4 1.033 -36.4
Angel Salazar     1987 KC  A   317  65  7  0  2   6  .465 -39.5 1.019 -39.5
Billy Ripken      1988 BAL A   512 106 18  1  2  33  .518 -35.9  .972 -35.1
Ozzie Guillen     1989 CHI A   597 151 20  8  1  15  .588 -35.7  .972 -34.7
Alvaro Espinoza   1990 NY  A   438  98 12  2  2  16  .532 -35.4 1.002 -35.4
Billy Ripken      1991 BAL A   287  62 11  1  0  15  .515 -30.4  .978 -30.2
Steve Sax         1992 CHI A   567 134 26  4  4  43  .607 -33.2  .980 -32.4
Tony Pena         1993 BOS A   304  55 11  0  4  25  .502 -39.2 1.075 -39.4
Dan Wilson        1994 SEA A   282  61 14  2  3  10  .556 -30.8 1.027 -31.0
Damion Easley     1995 CAL A   357  77 14  2  4  32  .588 -33.7  .989 -33.5
Gary Disarcina    1996 CAL A   536 137 26  4  5  21  .633 -42.1  .997 -42.0
Scott Brosius     1997 OAK A   479  97 20  1 11  34  .576 -50.9 1.004 -51.0
John Flaherty     1998 TB  A   304  63 11  0  3  22  .534 -43.1 1.034 -43.1
Mike Caruso       1999 CHI A   529 132 11  4  2  20  .577 -47.7 1.011 -48.0
Royce Clayton     2000 TEX A   513 124 21  5 14  42  .685 -34.3 1.034 -35.8
Shea Hillenbrand  2001 BOS A   468 123 20  2 12  13  .682 -27.7 1.011 -28.1
Neifi Perez       2002 KC  A   554 131 20  4  3  20  .564 -51.4 1.132 -54.0
Brandon Phillips  2003 CLE A   370  77 18  1  6  14  .553 -33.9  .985 -33.6
Scott Spiezio     2004 SEA A   367  79 12  3 10  36  .634 -27.0  .954 -25.7
Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS  VABR   IPF A/BPF
Julian Javier     1960 STL N   451 107 19  8  4  21  .614 -25.9 1.094 -28.4
Jerry Zimmerman   1961 CIN N   204  42  5  0  0  11  .483 -23.9 1.020 -24.0
Bobby Wine        1962 PHI N   311  76 15  0  4  11  .599 -31.8  .957 -31.5
Bob Lillis        1963 HOU N   469  93 13  1  1  15  .466 -36.1  .947 -35.2
Roy McMillan      1964 MLN-NYN 392  84  8  2  1  14  .500 -22.4  .986 -22.1
Glenn Beckert     1965 CHI N   614 147 21  3  3  28  .573 -27.3 1.041 -29.0
Hal Lanier        1966 SF  N   459 106 14  2  3  16  .546 -25.5 1.018 -26.0
Hal Lanier        1967 SF  N   525 112 16  3  0  16  .494 -28.9  .993 -28.7
Hal Lanier        1968 SF  N   486 100 14  1  0  12  .461 -44.6 1.000 -44.6
Hal Lanier        1969 SF  N   495 113  9  1  0  25  .514 -38.1 1.000 -38.1
Tommy Helms       1970 CIN N   575 136 21  1  1  21  .543 -43.0 1.007 -43.2
Bobby Wine        1971 MON N   340  68  9  0  1  25  .489 -31.1 1.014 -31.2
Marty Perez       1972 ATL N   479 109 13  1  1  30  .541 -26.5 1.073 -28.3
Tim Foli          1973 MON N   458 110 11  0  2  28  .561 -33.4 1.060 -34.6
Dave Roberts      1974 SD  N   318  53 10  1  5  32  .497 -29.9  .970 -29.6
Tim Foli          1975 MON N   572 136 25  2  1  36  .578 -30.0 1.069 -32.5
Randy Jones       1976 SD  N   103   6  0  0  0   5  .160 -22.8  .915 -23.7
Jerry Royster     1977 ATL N   445  96 10  2  6  38  .566 -31.5 1.162 -34.9
Ted Sizemore      1978 PHI N   351  77 12  0  0  25  .523 -30.9 1.024 -31.1
Ozzie Smith       1979 SD  N   587 124 18  6  0  37  .522 -30.2  .934 -27.3
Omar Moreno       1980 PIT N   676 168 20 13  2  57  .631 -24.2 1.033 -26.0
Doug Flynn        1981 NY  N   325  72 12  4  1  11  .539 -23.7 1.006 -23.7
Johnnie LeMaster  1982 SF  N   436  94 14  1  2  31  .533 -27.7  .978 -27.1
Doug Flynn        1983 MON N   452 107 18  4  0  19  .561 -32.3  .993 -32.1
Ron Oester        1984 CIN N   553 134 26  3  3  41  .612 -22.0 1.054 -24.2
Rafael Santana    1985 NY  N   529 136 19  1  1  29  .597 -27.7  .978 -27.0
Rafael Ramirez    1986 ATL N   496 119 21  1  8  21  .608 -35.8 1.048 -36.8
Glenn Wilson      1987 PHI N   569 150 21  2 14  38  .689 -20.6 1.046 -22.8
Benito Santiago   1988 SD  N   492 122 22  2 10  24  .643 -25.7  .990 -25.4
John Shelby       1989 LA  N   345  63 11  1  1  25  .466 -29.5  .972 -29.2
Alfredo Griffin   1990 LA  N   461  97 11  3  1  29  .512 -25.6  .972 -24.7
Andres Galarraga  1991 MON N   375  82 13  2  9  23  .604 -19.7  .961 -18.8
Jose Lind         1992 PIT N   468 110 14  1  0  26  .544 -25.5  .987 -25.1
Jeff Branson      1993 CIN N   381  92 15  1  3  19  .584 -28.2 1.008 -28.4
Kurt Abbott       1994 FLA N   345  86 17  3  9  16  .685 -18.5 1.061 -20.0
Kevin Stocker     1995 PHI N   412  90 14  3  1  43  .578 -29.9 1.016 -30.3
Rey Ordonez       1996 NY  N   502 129 12  4  1  22  .592 -31.4  .962 -30.1
Rey Ordonez       1997 NY  N   356  77  5  3  1  18  .510 -28.2  .942 -27.1
Neifi Perez       1998 COL N   647 177 25  9  9  38  .695 -24.5 1.252 -36.5
Eli Marrero       1999 STL N   317  61 13  1  6  18  .533 -35.2  .975 -35.0
Doug Glanville    2000 PHI N   637 175 27  6  8  31  .681 -34.2  .994 -33.9
Brad Ausmus       2001 HOU N   422  98 23  4  5  30  .625 -35.5 1.055 -36.6
Vinny Castilla    2002 ATL N   543 126 23  2 12  22  .616 -31.2 1.004 -31.4
Jose Hernandez    2003 3 Teams 519 117 18  3 13  46  .634 -38.0 1.073 -40.1
Chad Moeller      2004 MIL N   317  66 13  1  5  21  .568 -31.4 1.008 -31.4

The only players to trail their league more than twice were Hal Lanier and Alfredo Griffin, who both did it 4 times.

Here are the top career marks in park-adjusted batting runs:

Name                 AB    H  2B  3B  HR   BB   OPS   VABR   IPF  A/BPF
Barry Bonds        9098 2730 563  77 703 2302 1.053 1172.6  .973 1247.4
Hank Aaron         8840 2634 419  52 576 1121  .927  746.1 1.010  729.0 i
Jeff Bagwell       7697 2289 484  32 446 1383  .951  646.0  .987  674.9
Frank Thomas       6851 2113 444  11 436 1450  .996  663.6  .998  672.4
Frank Robinson     7729 2263 416  51 452 1181  .928  660.0 1.001  657.1 i
Joe Morgan         9277 2517 449  96 268 1865  .819  582.9  .973  629.2
Willie McCovey     8005 2143 344  41 508 1323  .884  597.0  .994  604.3 i
Reggie Jackson     9864 2584 463  49 563 1375  .846  531.7  .966  598.6
Mark McGwire       6187 1626 252   6 583 1317  .982  549.5  .967  597.0
Willie Mays        6807 1992 319  61 410  959  .918  576.2  .994  585.5 i
Willie Stargell    7927 2232 423  55 475  937  .889  585.6 1.002  583.4
Rickey Henderson  10961 3055 510  66 297 2190  .820  485.5  .957  581.3
Gary Sheffield     7302 2175 386  24 415 1202  .928  548.8  .983  580.5
Mike Schmidt       8352 2234 408  59 548 1507  .908  620.9 1.035  560.9
Tony Gwynn         9288 3141 543  85 135  790  .847  476.0  .979  517.6
Edgar Martinez     7213 2247 514  15 309 1283  .933  498.9  .993  513.0
Harmon Killebrew   7347 1897 264  22 520 1446  .892  568.1 1.038  511.3 i
Eddie Murray      11336 3255 560  35 504 1333  .836  463.4  .977  509.7
Carl Yastrzemski  11988 3419 646  59 452 1845  .841  680.1 1.086  505.9
George Brett      10349 3154 665 137 317 1096  .857  512.0 1.010  497.9
 
i - incomplete

Admittedly, Hank Aaron and several others are not completely represented here (since the data starts in 1960), but it is interesting to note that the gap between Barry Bonds and Hank Aaron is greater than the gap between Hank Aaron and Mike Hargrove, who is in 140th place.

The players at the bottom of the list:

Name                 AB    H  2B  3B  HR   BB   OPS   VABR   IPF  A/BPF
Larry Bowa         8418 2191 262  99  15  474  .620 -259.2 1.040 -287.2
Ozzie Guillen      6686 1764 275  69  28  239  .626 -291.8  .990 -286.5
Alfredo Griffin    6780 1688 245  78  24  338  .604 -280.6 1.005 -277.7
Tim Foli           6047 1515 241  20  25  265  .593 -245.0 1.031 -259.0
Ed Brinkman        6045 1355 201  38  60  444  .580 -251.5 1.008 -254.9
Hal Lanier         3703  843 111  20   8  136  .529 -243.8 1.007 -245.9
Royce Clayton      6208 1598 291  50 105  483  .684 -220.2 1.013 -230.2
Aur. Rodriguez     6611 1570 287  46 124  324  .626 -220.2 1.019 -230.0
Doug Flynn         3853  918 115  39   7  151  .560 -227.6  .981 -224.1
Rey Sanchez        4807 1305 192  32  15  227  .642 -218.2 1.011 -222.7
Neifi Perez        4190 1129 188  59  52  201  .681 -150.6 1.203 -222.4
Mark Belanger      5784 1316 175  33  20  576  .580 -228.0  .973 -213.9
Don Kessinger      7651 1931 254  80  14  684  .626 -154.7 1.076 -208.8
Don Sutton         1354  195  15   1   0   60  .340 -202.3  .947 -203.7
Gary Disarcina     3744  966 186  20  28  154  .633 -192.1 1.010 -195.0
Bobby Wine         3172  682 104  16  30  214  .550 -186.5 1.004 -187.5
Phil Niekro        1537  260  42   1   7   17  .395 -186.9 1.058 -186.7
Bob Boone          7245 1838 303  26 105  663  .661 -173.0 1.016 -184.4
Greg Maddux        1330  235  31   2   4   30  .410 -183.1 1.025 -183.0
Mike Bordick       5770 1500 257  30  91  500  .685 -202.5  .965 -180.4

In addition to being represented by three pitchers, the "worst" list is dominated by middle-infielders. Since the offensive demands of all positions are not equal, I next experimented with adjusting these totals for the positions played by the players. Pete Palmer makes a similar adjustment with his Batting Runs to address the relative worth to a team of a player's defensive position. I first determined the average value of each batting event by defensive position. As with the ball-park factors, I averaged these over three seasons.

The complete single-year position data is here.

The complete adjusted position data is here.

A common complaint about my methodology is that it seems to reward a player in the American League for not playing any position at all. The DH seldom has the highest offensive value and this bothers people who see this as a "reward" for not playing first base or left field - positions that often carry a higher defensive "penalty" than the DH. This may not seem fair, but I do believe it is accurate. If the best hitters don't typically occupy the DH slot, I think it's incorrect to pretend they do by artificially boosting the offensive value of that position. In the good old days before the DH, pinch-hitting was considered to be a difficult skill and one-dimensional players like Smoky Burgess were kept on roster because of their ability to come off a bench cold and hit well. Players today often complain about the difficulty of hitting as a DH. Prior to the 1998 season, Rob Neyer noted in his ESPN column that Frank Thomas had hit much worse over the course of his career in games he DHed than in games he played first base. Shortly after that column, Rob backed off on this claim a bit, conceding that Thomas may have been playing hurt during the games he wasn't able to take his position in the field, but Frank's performance through 1998 and 1999 might indicate that Rob was correct the first time and perhaps it's not inappropriate to reward those players who can hit productively as a DH.

Here's what the position adjustments do to the list of best hitters:

Name              Year Team    POS  AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS A/BPF A/POS
Barry Bonds       2001 SF  N    LF 476 156 32  2 73 177 1.379 129.0 108.2
Barry Bonds       2002 SF  N    LF 403 149 31  2 46 198 1.381 121.9 102.0
Barry Bonds       2004 SF  N    LF 373 135 27  3 45 232 1.422 115.9  96.4
Mickey Mantle     1961 NY  A    CF 514 163 16  6 54 126 1.135  97.9  85.9
Alex Rodriguez    1996 SEA A    SS 601 215 54  1 36  59 1.045  64.6  81.4
Joe Morgan        1976 CIN N    2B 472 151 30  5 27 114 1.020  79.7  80.7
Alex Rodriguez    2000 SEA A    SS 554 175 34  2 41 100 1.026  74.0  79.5
Barry Bonds       1996 SF  N    LF 517 159 27  3 42 151 1.076  98.2  79.3
Jason Giambi      2000 OAK A    1B 510 170 29  1 43 137 1.123  96.1  77.8
Mike Piazza       1997 LA  N     C 556 201 32  1 40  69 1.070  78.5  77.7
Joe Morgan        1972 CIN N    2B 552 161 23  4 16 115  .851  76.9  77.4
Barry Bonds       1993 SF  N    LF 539 181 38  4 46 126 1.136  87.0  74.2
Robin Yount       1982 MIL A    SS 635 210 46 12 29  54  .957  61.0  73.7
George Brett      1980 KC  A    3B 449 175 33  9 24  58 1.118  73.2  72.2
Sammy Sosa        2001 CHI N    RF 577 189 34  5 64 116 1.174  93.6  71.3
Joe Morgan        1975 CIN N    2B 498 163 27  6 17 132  .974  70.5  71.1
Jeff Kent         2000 SF  N    2B 587 196 41  7 33  90 1.021  74.8  71.1
Mickey Mantle     1962 NY  A    CF 377 121 15  1 30 122 1.091  80.3  70.1
Mark McGwire      1998 STL N    1B 509 152 21  0 70 162 1.222  94.5  69.0
Derek Jeter       1999 NY  A    SS 627 219 37  9 24  91  .989  59.7  68.5
 
Where:  A/POS - value added runs adjusted by ballpark factor and position.

The list of the worst hitters after the position adjustment:

Name              Year Team    POS  AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS A/BPF A/POS
Neifi Perez       2002 KC  A    SS 554 131 20  4  3  20  .564 -54.0 -51.0
George Wright     1985 TEX A    RF 363  69 13  0  2  25  .483 -47.6 -50.5
Scott Brosius     1997 OAK A    3B 479  97 20  1 11  34  .576 -51.0 -48.7
Bill Virdon       1962 PIT N    CF 663 164 27 10  6  36  .631 -29.6 -45.4
J.T. Snow         1996 CAL A    1B 575 148 20  1 17  56  .711 -22.7 -44.6
Derek Bell        1999 HOU N    RF 509 120 22  0 12  50  .656 -27.4 -43.1
Chris Truby       2002 MON-DET  3B 382  82 18  4  4  10  .552 -43.0 -42.8
Mike Caruso       1999 CHI A    SS 529 132 11  4  2  20  .577 -48.0 -41.3
Darin Erstad      1999 ANA A 1B-LF 585 148 22  5 13  47  .683 -31.3 -41.2
Brian Hunter      1999 DET-SEA  LF 539 125 13  6  4  37  .581 -37.8 -40.3

And the league leaders:

Name              Year Team    POS  AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS A/BPF A/POS
Mickey Mantle     1960 NY  A    CF 527 145 17  6 40 111  .957  59.5  50.0
Mickey Mantle     1961 NY  A    CF 514 163 16  6 54 126 1.135  97.9  85.9
Mickey Mantle     1962 NY  A    CF 377 121 15  1 30 122 1.091  80.3  70.1
Earl Battey       1963 MIN A     C 508 145 17  1 26  61  .845  30.1  30.6
Mickey Mantle     1964 NY  A    CF 465 141 25  2 35  99 1.015  66.2  58.4
Don Buford        1965 CHI A    2B 586 166 22  5 10  67  .747  27.8  33.2
Frank Robinson    1966 BAL A    RF 576 182 34  2 49  87 1.047  75.7  58.3
Carl Yastrzemski  1967 BOS A    LF 579 189 31  4 44  91 1.040  71.6  53.0
Bill Freehan      1968 DET A     C 540 142 24  2 25  65  .819  40.9  41.7
Harmon Killebrew  1969 MIN A    3B 555 153 20  2 49 145 1.011  79.8  68.2
Frank Howard      1970 WAS A    LF 566 160 15  1 44 132  .962  70.6  49.2
Bobby Murcer      1971 NY  A    CF 529 175 25  6 25  91  .969  68.3  59.2
Dick Allen        1972 CHI A    1B 506 156 28  5 37  99 1.023  71.9  51.6
Reggie Jackson    1973 OAK A    RF 539 158 28  2 32  76  .914  64.2  58.1
Jeff Burroughs    1974 TEX A    RF 554 167 33  2 25  91  .901  53.3  45.9
Toby Harrah       1975 TEX A    SS 522 153 24  1 20  98  .861  42.8  56.1
Bobby Grich       1976 BAL A    2B 518 138 31  4 13  86  .790  29.2  37.2
Rod Carew         1977 MIN A    1B 616 239 38 16 14  69 1.019  73.1  60.5
Larry Hisle       1978 MIL A    LF 520 151 24  0 34  67  .906  43.7  37.6
Darrell Porter    1979 KC  A     C 533 155 23 10 20 121  .905  50.5  56.7
George Brett      1980 KC  A    3B 449 175 33  9 24  58 1.118  73.2  72.2
Bobby Grich       1981 CAL A    2B 352 107 14  2 22  40  .921  24.8  28.8
Robin Yount       1982 MIL A    SS 635 210 46 12 29  54  .957  61.0  73.7
Wade Boggs        1983 BOS A    3B 582 210 44  7  5  92  .931  52.9  53.2
Cal Ripken        1984 BAL A    SS 641 195 37  7 27  71  .884  41.6  56.2
George Brett      1985 KC  A    3B 550 184 38  5 30 103 1.022  60.0  56.6
Wade Boggs        1986 BOS A    3B 580 207 47  2  8 105  .939  58.4  54.1
Alan Trammell     1987 DET A    SS 597 205 34  3 28  60  .953  47.0  56.8
Jose Canseco      1988 OAK A    RF 610 187 34  0 42  78  .959  55.0  45.0
Robin Yount       1989 MIL A    CF 614 195 38  9 21  63  .896  48.4  46.3
Rickey Henderson  1990 OAK A    LF 489 159 33  3 28  97 1.016  49.3  44.9
Cal Ripken        1991 BAL A    SS 650 210 46  5 34  53  .940  51.1  66.5
Frank Thomas      1992 CHI A    1B 573 185 46  2 24 122  .975  62.3  48.0
John Olerud       1993 TOR A    1B 551 200 54  2 24 114 1.072  67.2  49.8
Frank Thomas      1994 CHI A    1B 399 141 34  1 38 109 1.217  65.9  49.3
Edgar Martinez    1995 SEA A    DH 511 182 52  0 29 116 1.107  80.2  68.2
Alex Rodriguez    1996 SEA A    SS 601 215 54  1 36  59 1.045  64.6  81.4
Ken Griffey       1997 SEA A    CF 608 185 34  3 56  76 1.028  58.6  58.6
Derek Jeter       1998 NY  A    SS 626 203 25  8 19  57  .864  45.2  57.0
Derek Jeter       1999 NY  A    SS 627 219 37  9 24  91  .989  59.7  68.5
Alex Rodriguez    2000 SEA A    SS 554 175 34  2 41 100 1.026  74.0  79.5
Jason Giambi      2001 OAK A    1B 520 178 47  2 38 129 1.137  86.9  67.5
Manny Ramirez     2002 BOS A    LF 436 152 31  0 33  73 1.097  64.6  61.2
Jorge Posada      2003 NY  A     C 481 135 24  0 30  93  .922  43.7  56.2
Carlos Guillen    2004 DET A    SS 522 166 37 10 20  52  .921  39.1  43.0
Name              Year Team    POS  AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS A/BPF A/POS
Eddie Mathews     1960 MIL N    3B 548 152 19  7 39 111  .948  79.0  62.9
Willie Mays       1961 SF  N    CF 572 176 32  3 40  81  .977  67.2  51.5
Tommy Davis       1962 LA  N    LF 665 230 27  9 27  33  .910  65.6  46.4
Hank Aaron        1963 MIL N    RF 631 201 29  4 44  78  .977  82.0  61.3
Willie Mays       1964 SF  N    CF 578 171 21  9 47  82  .990  63.4  50.5
Pete Rose         1965 CIN N    2B 670 209 35 11 11  69  .828  44.3  48.4
Dick Allen        1966 PHI N    3B 524 166 25 10 40  68 1.027  63.9  53.5
Roberto Clemente  1967 PIT N    RF 585 209 26 10 23  41  .954  70.0  51.7
Willie McCovey    1968 SF  N    1B 523 153 16  4 36  72  .923  54.7  37.0
Willie McCovey    1969 SF  N    1B 491 157 26  2 45 121 1.108  86.1  64.7
Denis Menke       1970 HOU N    SS 562 171 26  6 13  82  .833  42.3  57.9
Joe Torre         1971 STL N    3B 634 230 34  8 24  63  .976  69.0  59.6
Joe Morgan        1972 CIN N    2B 552 161 23  4 16 115  .851  76.9  77.4
Joe Morgan        1973 CIN N    2B 576 167 35  2 26 111  .899  60.8  61.8
Johnny Bench      1974 CIN N     C 621 174 38  2 33  80  .870  48.7  50.8
Joe Morgan        1975 CIN N    2B 498 163 27  6 17 132  .974  70.5  71.1
Joe Morgan        1976 CIN N    2B 472 151 30  5 27 114 1.020  79.7  80.7
Joe Morgan        1977 CIN N    2B 521 150 21  6 22 117  .895  41.1  45.0
Dave Parker       1978 PIT N    RF 581 194 32 12 30  57  .979  58.9  38.9
Dave Winfield     1979 SD  N    RF 597 184 27 10 34  85  .953  67.0  44.1
Ted Simmons       1980 STL N     C 495 150 33  2 21  59  .880  41.2  37.4
Mike Schmidt      1981 PHI N    3B 354 112 19  2 31  73 1.080  46.6  39.9
Pedro Guerrero    1982 LA  N    RF 575 175 27  5 32  65  .914  48.7  36.9
Jose Cruz         1983 HOU N    LF 594 189 28  8 14  65  .848  54.7  44.9
Jose Cruz         1984 HOU N    LF 600 187 28 13 12  73  .842  53.3  42.0
Pedro Guerrero    1985 LA  N    LF 487 156 22  2 33  83  .999  55.2  46.0
Mike Schmidt      1986 PHI N    3B 552 160 29  1 37  89  .937  47.2  35.4
D. Strawberry     1987 NY  N    RF 532 151 32  5 39  97  .981  68.6  53.3
D. Strawberry     1988 NY  N    RF 543 146 27  3 39  85  .911  49.9  34.4
Will Clark        1989 SF  N    1B 588 196 38  9 23  74  .953  74.0  51.0
Barry Bonds       1990 PIT N    LF 519 156 32  3 33  93  .970  61.7  45.7
Barry Bonds       1991 PIT N    LF 510 149 28  5 25 107  .924  64.8  53.3
Barry Bonds       1992 PIT N    LF 473 147 36  5 34 127 1.080  70.0  60.3
Barry Bonds       1993 SF  N    LF 539 181 38  4 46 126 1.136  87.0  74.2
Jeff Bagwell      1994 HOU N    1B 400 147 32  2 39  65 1.201  69.6  55.4
Mike Piazza       1995 LA  N     C 434 150 17  0 32  39 1.006  51.0  51.4
Barry Bonds       1996 SF  N    LF 517 159 27  3 42 151 1.076  98.2  79.3
Mike Piazza       1997 LA  N     C 556 201 32  1 40  69 1.070  78.5  77.7
Mark McGwire      1998 STL N    1B 509 152 21  0 70 162 1.222  94.5  69.0
Brian Giles       1999 PIT N    CF 521 164 33  3 39  95 1.032  60.5  52.5
Jeff Kent         2000 SF  N    2B 587 196 41  7 33  90 1.021  74.8  71.1
Barry Bonds       2001 SF  N    LF 476 156 32  2 73 177 1.379 129.0 108.2
Barry Bonds       2002 SF  N    LF 403 149 31  2 46 198 1.381 121.9 102.0
Barry Bonds       2003 SF  N    LF 390 133 22  1 45 148 1.278  82.1  64.8
Barry Bonds       2004 SF  N    LF 373 135 27  3 45 232 1.422 115.9  96.4

This adjustment caused wholesale changes in the yearly leader board. The breakdown in league leaderships by position before and after the adjustment:

            C  1B  2B  3B  SS  LF  CF  RF  DH
Before      0  22   4   9   1  22  10  20   3
After       8  11  10  10  11  18  10  11   1

There are a few surprising league leaders in the charts above but perhaps none more so Denis Menke atop the NL in 1970. In order to look at what went wrong (or right) with this selection, let's start with the top hitters in the league that year as ranked by our linear weight method:

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS   LWR
Willie McCovey    1970 SF  N   495 143 39  2 39 137 1.056  60.8
Billy Williams    1970 CHI N   636 205 34  4 42  72  .977  58.0
Rico Carty        1970 ATL N   478 175 23  3 25  77 1.037  53.5
Jim Hickman       1970 CHI N   514 162 33  4 32  93 1.001  53.0
Tony Perez        1970 CIN N   587 186 28  6 40  83  .990  53.0
Bernie Carbo      1970 CIN N   365 113 19  3 21  94 1.004  42.7
Hank Aaron        1970 ATL N   516 154 26  1 38  74  .958  42.6
Johnny Bench      1970 CIN N   605 177 35  4 45  54  .932  41.8
Dick Dietz        1970 SF  N   493 148 36  2 22 109  .941  40.1
Rusty Staub       1970 MON N   569 156 23  7 30 112  .891  39.7

And where is Denis Menke? He's in 25th place:

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS   LWR
Denis Menke       1970 HOU N   562 171 26  6 13  82  .833  27.9

So by most linear weight measurements, Menke would be far down in the pack, at least before we adjusted for park and position. He starts out much higher according to Value Added Batting Runs. The 1970 NL leaders:

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS  VABR
Billy Williams    1970 CHI N   636 205 34  4 42  72  .977  69.0
Willie McCovey    1970 SF  N   495 143 39  2 39 137 1.056  66.1
Jim Hickman       1970 CHI N   514 162 33  4 32  93 1.001  58.5
Rico Carty        1970 ATL N   478 175 23  3 25  77 1.037  54.6
Dick Dietz        1970 SF  N   493 148 36  2 22 109  .941  54.3
Tony Perez        1970 CIN N   587 186 28  6 40  83  .990  53.7
Hank Aaron        1970 ATL N   516 154 26  1 38  74  .958  52.7
Wes Parker        1970 LA  N   614 196 47  4 10  79  .850  45.5
Johnny Bench      1970 CIN N   605 177 35  4 45  54  .932  44.5
Rusty Staub       1970 MON N   569 156 23  7 30 112  .891  43.1

Menke is still not in the top ten, but he's moved up to 13th place.

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS  VABR
Denis Menke       1970 HOU N   562 171 26  6 13  82  .833  37.4

The Astrodome was a poor hitter's park so taking that into account moves him up even further:

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS  VABR   IPF A/BPF
Willie McCovey    1970 SF  N   495 143 39  2 39 137 1.056  66.1  .996  66.6
Dick Dietz        1970 SF  N   493 148 36  2 22 109  .941  54.3  .994  55.0
Wes Parker        1970 LA  N   614 196 47  4 10  79  .850  45.5  .935  54.4
Tony Perez        1970 CIN N   587 186 28  6 40  83  .990  53.7 1.008  52.7
Billy Williams    1970 CHI N   636 205 34  4 42  72  .977  69.0 1.131  51.4
Rico Carty        1970 ATL N   478 175 23  3 25  77 1.037  54.6 1.056  48.3
Hank Aaron        1970 ATL N   516 154 26  1 38  74  .958  52.7 1.054  46.4
Johnny Bench      1970 CIN N   605 177 35  4 45  54  .932  44.5 1.005  43.9
Jim Hickman       1970 CHI N   514 162 33  4 32  93 1.001  58.5 1.137  42.9
Denis Menke       1970 HOU N   562 171 26  6 13  82  .833  37.4  .958  42.3

While Menke jumped up to 10th place, this adjustment helped Wes Parker even more, and Menke is still quite a ways from the top spot. To get some idea of what the positional adjustment is going to do for Menke, here is how the regular shortstops in the NL hit in 1970:

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS  VABR   IPF A/BPF
Denis Menke       1970 HOU N   562 171 26  6 13  82  .833  37.4  .958  42.3
Sonny Jackson     1970 ATL N   328  85 14  3  0  45  .668  -2.1 1.062  -4.6
Gene Alley        1970 PIT N   426 104 16  5  8  31  .659  -8.1  .989  -7.6
Jose Arcia        1970 SD  N   229  51  9  3  0  12  .570  -8.9  .978  -8.5
Bud Harrelson     1970 NY  N   564 137 18  8  1  95  .659 -11.3 1.002 -11.4
Maury Wills       1970 LA  N   522 141 19  3  0  50  .651 -15.3  .934 -11.7
Dave Concepcion   1970 CIN N   265  69  6  3  1  23  .641 -16.1 1.025 -16.5
Bobby Wine        1970 MON N   501 116 21  3  3  39  .590 -20.1 1.013 -20.7
Don Kessinger     1970 CHI N   631 168 21 14  1  66  .685 -12.8 1.138 -21.3
Dal Maxvill       1970 STL N   399  80  5  2  0  51  .510 -27.0 1.021 -27.6
Hal Lanier        1970 SF  N   438 101 13  1  2  21  .543 -37.2  .985 -37.0
Larry Bowa        1970 PHI N   547 137 17  6  0  21  .580 -40.1  .988 -39.8

I suppose you could safely say that hitting talent was scarce at shortstop that year. Here are the league leaders after the adjustment for position:

Name              Year Team    POS  AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS A/BPF A/POS
Denis Menke       1970 HOU N    SS 562 171 26  6 13  82  .833  42.3  57.9
Dick Dietz        1970 SF  N     C 493 148 36  2 22 109  .941  55.0  57.1
Willie McCovey    1970 SF  N    1B 495 143 39  2 39 137 1.056  66.6  44.0
Johnny Bench      1970 CIN N     C 605 177 35  4 45  54  .932  43.9  42.7
Tony Perez        1970 CIN N    3B 587 186 28  6 40  83  .990  52.7  41.4
B. Grabarkewitz   1970 LA  N    3B 529 153 20  8 17  95  .852  39.3  39.0
Joe Morgan        1970 HOU N    2B 548 147 28  9  8 102  .779  22.7  31.7
Rico Carty        1970 ATL N    LF 478 175 23  3 25  77 1.037  48.3  31.1
Tony Taylor       1970 PHI N    2B 439 132 26  9  9  50  .837  30.5  29.3
Billy Williams    1970 CHI N    LF 636 205 34  4 42  72  .977  51.4  29.3

Now do we want to give Menke "credit" for the fact that other teams had poor-hitting shortstops? Or penalize McCovey and Parker because good-hitting first basemen were common in 1970? I don't know. I think it's an interesting exercise to see where this kind of analysis leads us, but I must admit to being unconvinced that Denis Menke was the top offensive force in the NL that season.

Here are the worst marks each year after adjusting for position:

Name              Year Team    POS  AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS A/BPF A/POS
Julio Becquer     1960 WAS A    1B 298  75 15  7  4  12  .671 -10.5 -21.3
Vic Power         1961 CLE A    1B 563 151 34  4  5  38  .679 -16.6 -38.8
Jim Piersall      1962 WAS A    CF 471 115 20  4  4  39  .630 -20.6 -30.0
Tito Francona     1963 CLE A    LF 500 114 29  0 10  47  .642 -15.0 -27.6
Lee Thomas        1964 LAA-BOS  RF 573 150 27  3 15  52  .723  -5.1 -24.2
Mike Hershberger  1965 KC  A    RF 494 114 15  5  5  37  .601 -19.5 -33.0
Sam Bowens        1966 BAL A    RF 243  51  9  1  6  17  .605 -15.0 -21.2
Jose Tartabull    1967 BOS A    RF 247  55  1  2  0  23  .530 -21.3 -25.1
George Scott      1968 BOS A    1B 350  60 14  0  3  26  .473 -22.2 -33.0
Aur. Rodriguez    1969 CAL A    3B 561 130 17  2  7  32  .579 -23.2 -27.6
Horace Clarke     1970 NY  A    2B 686 172 24  2  4  35  .595 -39.2 -32.6
Aur. Rodriguez    1971 DET A    3B 604 153 30  7 15  27  .688 -23.7 -29.6
Jim Spencer       1972 CAL A    1B 212  47  5  0  1  12  .522 -12.6 -17.4
Mike Epstein      1973 TEX-CAL  1B 397  83 11  2  9  48  .619 -14.6 -25.6
Deron Johnson     1974 3 Teams  DH 351  60  4  2 13  32  .542 -29.8 -33.4
Paul Blair        1975 BAL A    CF 440  96 13  4  5  25  .557 -26.2 -28.3
Paul Blair        1976 BAL A    CF 375  74 16  0  3  22  .509 -32.6 -34.5
Rob Picciolo      1977 OAK A    SS 419  84 12  3  2   9  .475 -43.1 -30.1
Leroy Stanton     1978 SEA A    DH 302  55 11  0  3  34  .514 -23.4 -25.8
Mario Mendoza     1979 SEA A    SS 373  74 10  3  1   9  .466 -48.9 -36.5
Hosken Powell     1980 MIN A    RF 485 127 17  5  6  32  .666 -22.0 -26.9
Danny Ainge       1981 TOR A    3B 246  46  6  2  0  23  .486 -19.5 -20.4
Miguel Dilone     1982 CLE A    LF 379  89 12  3  3  25  .592 -23.2 -29.2
Al Cowens         1983 SEA A    RF 356  73 19  2  7  23  .584 -25.9 -29.4
Bob Boone         1984 CAL A     C 450  91 16  1  3  25  .504 -42.2 -31.9
George Wright     1985 TEX A RF-CF 363  69 13  0  2  25  .483 -47.6 -50.5
Tim Hulett        1986 CHI A    3B 520 120 16  5 17  21  .639 -36.4 -35.1
Angel Salazar     1987 KC  A    SS 317  65  7  0  2   6  .465 -39.5 -34.7
Billy Ripken      1988 BAL A    2B 512 106 18  1  2  33  .518 -35.1 -28.9
Cory Snyder       1989 CLE A    RF 489 105 17  0 18  23  .611 -25.2 -31.0
Pete O'Brien      1990 SEA A    1B 366  82 18  0  5  44  .622 -29.3 -37.5
Billy Ripken      1991 BAL A    2B 287  62 11  1  0  15  .515 -30.2 -29.0
Steve Sax         1992 CHI A    2B 567 134 26  4  4  43  .607 -32.4 -30.4
Dave McCarty      1993 MIN A OF-1B 350  75 15  2  2  19  .542 -29.8 -35.2
Vince Coleman     1994 KC  A    LF 438 105 14 12  2  29  .626 -23.6 -27.9
Don Mattingly     1995 NY  A    1B 458 132 32  2  7  40  .754 -20.0 -37.6
J.T. Snow         1996 CAL A    1B 575 148 20  1 17  56  .711 -22.7 -44.6
Scott Brosius     1997 OAK A    3B 479  97 20  1 11  34  .576 -51.0 -48.7
John Flaherty     1998 TB  A     C 304  63 11  0  3  22  .534 -43.1 -34.7
Mike Caruso       1999 CHI A    SS 529 132 11  4  2  20  .577 -48.0 -41.3
Ron Coomer        2000 MIN A    1B 544 147 29  1 16  36  .733 -18.4 -34.8
Shea Hillenbrand  2001 BOS A    3B 468 123 20  2 12  13  .682 -28.1 -26.2
Neifi Perez       2002 KC  A    SS 554 131 20  4  3  20  .564 -54.0 -51.0
Paul Konerko      2003 CHI A    1B 444 104 19  0 18  43  .704 -22.3 -30.8
Scott Spiezio     2004 SEA A    3B 367  79 12  3 10  36  .634 -25.7 -28.8
Name              Year Team    POS  AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS A/BPF A/POS
Ken Walters       1960 PHI N    RF 426 102 10  0  8  16  .585 -26.2 -36.5
Charlie James     1961 STL N    RF 349  89 19  2  4  15  .644 -18.9 -29.3
Bill Virdon       1962 PIT N    CF 663 164 27 10  6  36  .631 -29.6 -45.4
Bob Lillis        1963 HOU N    SS 469  93 13  1  1  15  .466 -35.2 -25.9
Bill Virdon       1964 PIT N    CF 473 115 11  3  3  30  .585 -20.1 -29.6
Bob Aspromonte    1965 HOU N    3B 578 152 15  2  5  38  .632 -19.6 -31.8
Tommy Harper      1966 CIN N    RF 553 154 22  5  5  57  .711 -12.1 -28.2
Donn Clendenon    1967 PIT N    1B 478 119 15  2 13  34  .668 -11.0 -24.3
Hal Lanier        1968 SF  N    SS 486 100 14  1  0  12  .461 -44.6 -30.9
Jesus Alou        1969 HOU N    LF 452 112 19  4  5  15  .617 -17.2 -31.5
Tommy Helms       1970 CIN N    2B 575 136 21  1  1  21  .543 -43.2 -34.8
Sonny Jackson     1971 ATL N    CF 547 141 20  5  2  35  .626 -19.7 -29.4
Randy Hundley     1972 CHI N     C 357  78 12  0  5  22  .555 -26.5 -24.4
Bobby Tolan       1973 CIN N    CF 457  94 14  2  9  27  .555 -24.9 -34.0
Dave Roberts      1974 SD  N    3B 318  53 10  1  5  32  .497 -29.6 -34.4
Ken Reitz         1975 STL N    3B 592 159 25  1  5  22  .637 -23.5 -31.8
Del Unser         1976 NYN-MON  CF 496 113 19  4 12  29  .624 -20.9 -29.5
Jerry Royster     1977 ATL N 3B-SS 445  96 10  2  6  38  .566 -34.9 -31.8
Ted Sizemore      1978 PHI N    2B 351  77 12  0  0  25  .523 -31.1 -27.0
Willie Montanez   1979 NY  N    1B 410  96 19  0  5  25  .594 -16.7 -28.4
Omar Moreno       1980 PIT N    CF 676 168 20 13  2  57  .631 -26.0 -34.9
Doug Flynn        1981 NY  N    2B 325  72 12  4  1  11  .539 -23.7 -20.1
Paul Householder  1982 CIN N    RF 417  88 11  5  9  30  .592 -25.5 -34.3
Doug Flynn        1983 MON N    2B 452 107 18  4  0  19  .561 -32.1 -29.6
Ron Oester        1984 CIN N    2B 553 134 26  3  3  41  .612 -24.2 -24.7
Bob Dernier       1985 CHI N    CF 469 119 20  3  1  40  .631 -18.6 -24.6
Vince Coleman     1986 STL N    LF 600 139 13  8  0  60  .581 -27.6 -39.3
Glenn Wilson      1987 PHI N    RF 569 150 21  2 14  38  .689 -22.8 -37.4
Chris James       1988 PHI N    RF 566 137 24  1 19  31  .671 -18.7 -31.0
Vince Coleman     1989 STL N    LF 563 143 21  9  2  50  .650 -17.7 -34.4
Eric Yelding      1990 HOU N    CF 511 130  9  5  1  39  .602 -20.8 -23.0
Andres Galarraga  1991 MON N    1B 375  82 13  2  9  23  .604 -18.8 -29.6
Jose Lind         1992 PIT N    2B 468 110 14  1  0  26  .544 -25.1 -26.4
Eric Karros       1993 LA  N    1B 619 153 27  2 23  34  .696 -16.5 -35.6
James Mouton      1994 HOU N    RF 310  76 11  0  2  27  .615 -19.8 -27.0
Jose Oliva        1995 ATL-SLN  3B 183  26  5  0  7  12  .486 -23.2 -25.0
Charles Johnson   1996 FLA N     C 386  84 13  1 13  40  .649 -29.5 -30.2
Jose Guillen      1997 PIT N    RF 498 133 20  5 14  17  .712 -14.2 -27.9
Travis Lee        1998 ARI N    1B 562 151 20  2 22  67  .775  -5.6 -29.4
Derek Bell        1999 HOU N    RF 509 120 22  0 12  50  .656 -27.4 -43.1
Doug Glanville    2000 PHI N    CF 637 175 27  6  8  31  .681 -33.9 -39.6
Brad Ausmus       2001 HOU N     C 422  98 23  4  5  30  .625 -36.6 -30.7
Vinny Castilla    2002 ATL N    3B 543 126 23  2 12  22  .616 -31.4 -34.4
Jose Hernandez    2003 3 Teams  3S 519 117 18  3 13  46  .634 -40.1 -37.9
Richard Hidalgo   2004 HOU-NYN  RF 523 125 26  3 25  44  .745 -17.2 -29.8

Here are the career leaders after adjusting for position:

Name              POS    AB    H  2B  3B  HR   BB   OPS  A/BPF  A/POS
Barry Bonds        LF  9098 2730 563  77 703 2302 1.053 1247.4  972.9
Joe Morgan         2B  9277 2517 449  96 268 1865  .819  629.2  701.6
Mike Piazza         C  5805 1829 285   6 378  666  .947  497.1  521.5
Frank Thomas    1B-DH  6851 2113 444  11 436 1450  .996  672.4  493.7
Hank Aaron         RF  8840 2634 419  52 576 1121  .927  729.0  460.2 i
Reggie Jackson     RF  9864 2584 463  49 563 1375  .846  598.6  450.9
Frank Robinson     RF  7729 2263 416  51 452 1181  .928  657.1  437.7 i
Ken Griffey        CF  7379 2156 400  36 501  984  .937  454.8  431.8
Alex Rodriguez     SS  5590 1707 309  24 381  639  .955  361.5  431.7
Edgar Martinez     DH  7213 2247 514  15 309 1283  .933  513.0  427.4
Rickey Henderson   LF 10961 3055 510  66 297 2190  .820  581.3  423.3
Willie Mays        CF  6807 1992 319  61 410  959  .918  585.5  420.5 i
George Brett       3B 10349 3154 665 137 317 1096  .857  497.9  414.1
Gary Sheffield     RF  7302 2175 386  24 415 1202  .928  580.5  413.4
Mike Schmidt       3B  8352 2234 408  59 548 1507  .908  560.9  411.7
Wade Boggs         3B  9180 3010 578  61 118 1412  .858  403.3  397.2
Rod Carew       1B-2B  9315 3053 445 112  92 1018  .822  455.8  396.1
Robin Yount     SS-CF 11008 3142 583 126 251  966  .772  250.2  384.1
Mark McGwire       1B  6187 1626 252   6 583 1317  .982  597.0  383.6
Jeff Bagwell       1B  7697 2289 484  32 446 1383  .951  674.9  375.1
 
i - incomplete

And the career trailers:

Name              POS    AB    H  2B  3B  HR   BB   OPS  A/BPF  A/POS
Aur. Rodriguez     3B  6611 1570 287  46 124  324  .626 -230.0 -257.7
Vince Coleman      LF  5406 1425 176  89  28  477  .668 -111.9 -218.1
Ken Reitz          3B  4777 1243 243  12  68  184  .649 -127.5 -197.4
Bill Buckner       1B  9397 2715 498  49 174  450  .729   48.0 -191.1
Omar Moreno        CF  4992 1257 171  87  37  387  .649 -124.5 -182.3
Hal Lanier      SS-2B  3703  843 111  20   8  136  .529 -245.9 -182.1
Doug Flynn         2B  3853  918 115  39   7  151  .560 -224.1 -179.4
Rey Sanchez        SS  4807 1305 192  32  15  227  .642 -222.7 -174.5
Neifi Perez        SS  4190 1129 188  59  52  201  .681 -222.4 -170.1
Doug Glanville     CF  3964 1100 166  32  59  208  .695 -126.7 -163.4
Ed Brinkman        SS  6045 1355 201  38  60  444  .580 -254.9 -162.7
Royce Clayton      SS  6208 1598 291  50 105  483  .684 -230.2 -158.1
Rick Manning       CF  5248 1349 189  43  56  471  .658 -124.5 -153.9
Willie Wilson      CF  7731 2207 281 147  41  425  .702  -96.6 -152.5
Brian Hunter       CF  3347  882 146  28  25  243  .660 -131.5 -150.2
Tom Goodwin        CF  3846 1029 125  39  24  365  .671 -137.0 -149.7
Kevin Young        1B  3897 1007 235  17 144  336  .762   -7.7 -145.3
Ed Kranepool       1B  5436 1418 225  25 118  454  .693   11.7 -143.9
Otis Nixon         CF  5115 1379 142  27  11  585  .658 -116.3 -143.4
Jesus Alou      RF-LF  4345 1216 170  26  32  138  .658  -36.4 -142.8

While this "worst" list still boast quite a few middle-infielders, it also has its share of outfielders and first-basemen. By the way, had we extended this list 3 more places, it would have included Lou Brock, Hall of Fame outfielder.

But what happened to the pitchers that were on our earlier list? Here they are:

Name              POS    AB    H  2B  3B  HR   BB   OPS  A/BPF  A/POS
Greg Maddux         P  1330  235  31   2   4   30  .410 -183.0   15.0
Phil Niekro         P  1537  260  42   1   7   17  .395 -186.7   -2.6
Don Sutton          P  1354  195  15   1   0   60  .340 -203.7  -35.9

So Maddux made the original worst list despite being a slightly better than average hitter (for a pitcher) over the course of his career, Phil Niekro was just about average and only Don Sutton was a bad hitting pitcher. The worst hitting pitcher after adjusting for position? The one, the only...

Name              POS    AB    H  2B  3B  HR   BB   OPS  A/BPF  A/POS
Dean Chance         P   662   44   2   0   0   30  .183 -123.7  -47.2

One weird thing about Dean Chance. Over the course of his career, he played in slight pitcher's parks (park factor .993). When applying this to his unadjusted batting runs, they actually got somewhat worse (from -123.7 to -124.0). The reason is that Chance was so bad at the plate that even after adding in the average runs per plate appearances, his total was still negative, which caused the park adjustment to have the opposite of its intended effect. Put quite simply, Dean Chance was so bad he broke the method. I suppose it's a good thing there weren't many hitters like him.

Value Added Versus Linear Weights, Part 1

I wanted to compare the results of the Value Added approach to a more traditional measurement system like Linear Weights. Since we've already introduced our own home-grown linear weight system, I decided to use that one, which for the sake of simplicity we'll call Linear Weight Runs. The nice thing about using two paired methods is that we know they are expressed in similar units so differences between the two should be caused by differences in the context of the events, a context invisible to linear weight methods.

Here are the players with the greatest positive difference between their unadjusted Value Added Batting Runs and their linear weight runs:

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS  VABR   LWR  DIFF
Vic Wertz         1960 BOS A   443 125 22  0 19  37  .796  36.8  10.5  26.3
Tony Gwynn        1997 SD  N   592 220 49  2 17  43  .957  71.6  46.7  24.9
Troy O'Leary      1996 BOS A   497 129 28  5 15  47  .753  14.5 -10.2  24.7
Lyman Bostock     1978 CAL A   568 168 24  4  5  59  .740  25.5   1.5  24.0
Joe Morgan        1972 CIN N   552 161 23  4 16 115  .851  68.3  45.1  23.2
Chris Stynes      2003 COL N   443 113 31  3 11  48  .748  24.1   1.4  22.7
Lance Berkman     2002 HOU N   578 169 35  2 42 107  .982  73.5  51.2  22.3
Matt Williams     1990 SF  N   617 171 27  2 33  33  .807  37.8  16.4  21.4
Wally Joyner      1998 SD  N   439 131 30  1 12  51  .824  35.7  14.4  21.2
Norm Siebern      1962 KC  A   600 185 25  6 25 110  .907  66.4  45.5  20.9
Rusty Greer       1999 TEX A   556 167 41  3 20  96  .898  47.0  26.1  20.9
Paul Konerko      2004 CHI A   563 156 22  0 41  69  .894  38.0  17.1  20.9
Roberto Clemente  1967 PIT N   585 209 26 10 23  41  .954  70.6  50.0  20.6
Bill White        1966 PHI N   577 159 23  6 22  68  .803  43.5  23.0  20.5
Jeff Bagwell      2001 HOU N   600 173 43  4 39 106  .966  62.9  42.5  20.5
Eric Chavez       2001 OAK A   552 159 43  0 32  41  .878  42.0  21.5  20.5
Joe Torre         1964 MIL N   601 193 36  5 20  36  .863  49.2  28.8  20.4
Richie Zisk       1974 PIT N   536 168 30  3 17  65  .862  51.7  31.4  20.3
Garry Templeton   1982 SD  N   563 139 25  8  6  26  .631   2.1 -18.1  20.2
Jim Gentile       1960 BAL A   384 112 17  0 21  68  .903  48.5  28.7  19.8
Tom Herr          1985 STL N   596 180 38  3  8  80  .795  47.9  28.1  19.8
 
Where: LWR - Linear Weight Runs

These players all produced more runs for their teams than their statistical line would otherwise indicate. Most of the increase was due to their performance with men in scoring position. For example, Vic Wertz in 1960 had a 1.106 OPS with men in scoring position compared to a .649 OPS with the bases empty. In addition, he went 11 for 19 with 3 home runs with the bases loaded. Lymon Bostock hit .343 with men in scoring position in 1978 and also led the American League by reaching on errors 16 times.

The flip side of the coin, the players with the largest negative differentials:

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS  VABR   LWR  DIFF
Raul Mondesi      2003 NYA-ARI 523 142 31  4 24  56  .827  -9.7  12.6 -22.3
Rafael Palmeiro   1988 CHI N   580 178 41  5  8  38  .785    .1  22.1 -22.0
Larry Walker      1998 COL N   454 165 46  3 23  64 1.075  35.8  56.5 -20.7
Ivan DeJesus      1978 CHI N   619 172 24  7  3  74  .710 -16.8   3.8 -20.6
Aur. Rodriguez    1971 DET A   604 153 30  7 15  27  .688 -22.5  -2.0 -20.5
Horace Clarke     1970 NY  A   686 172 24  2  4  35  .595 -41.1 -21.1 -20.1
Tim Raines        1985 MON N   575 184 30 13 11  81  .880  19.7  39.7 -20.0
Bill Russell      1978 LA  N   625 179 32  4  3  30  .684 -25.0  -5.4 -19.6
Tony Gwynn        1987 SD  N   589 218 36 13  7  82  .958  29.2  48.5 -19.3
Tito Fuentes      1970 SF  N   435 116 13  7  2  36  .665 -26.2  -7.0 -19.2
Rick Dempsey      1986 BAL A   327  68 15  1 13  45  .689 -24.9  -5.9 -19.0
Ralph Garr        1973 ATL N   668 200 32  6 11  22  .737 -10.0   8.6 -18.6
Mark Kotsay       2004 OAK A   606 190 37  3 15  55  .829    .5  18.8 -18.4
Ron Gant          2000 PHI-ANA 425 106 19  3 26  56  .827  -9.8   8.5 -18.3
Robin Ventura     1996 CHI A   586 168 31  2 34  78  .888  -1.3  16.8 -18.1
Jose Cardenal     1966 CAL A   561 155 15  3 16  34  .719  -6.4  11.7 -18.1
Max Alvis         1963 CLE A   602 165 32  7 22  36  .784   1.1  19.0 -17.9
Preston Wilson    2001 FLA N   468 128 30  2 23  36  .825 -10.5   7.3 -17.9
Phil Bradley      1987 SEA A   603 179 38 10 14  84  .850   1.3  19.0 -17.6
Pete O'Brien      1990 SEA A   366  82 18  0  5  44  .622 -29.5 -12.2 -17.3
Paul Molitor      1983 MIL A   608 164 28  6 15  59  .743 -12.8   4.4 -17.3
Willie Wilson     1986 KC  A   631 170 20  7  9  31  .679 -27.1  -9.8 -17.3

Again, these differences can be caused by a number of factors, but the most common is a failure to perform well with men in scoring position. Raul Mondesi hit .328 with the bases empty in 2003 with the Yankees and the Diamondbacks and only .152 with runners in scoring position. With the bases loaded that season, he grounded into as many double-plays (3) as he had hits in 21 at-bats.

Note that Tony Gwynn appears on both lists. According to our linear weight measurement, his 1987 season was slightly better than his 1997 campaign. According to Value Added Batting Runs, there was no comparison: his 1997 season was over 40 runs better.

The players who over the course of their careers exceeded their linear weight scores by the greatest number of Value Added Runs:

Name                 AB    H  2B  3B  HR   BB   OPS   VABR    LWR   DIFF ORD
Harold Baines      9908 2866 488  49 384 1062  .820  332.8  221.1  111.8   3
Dave Parker        9358 2712 526  75 339  683  .810  400.7  291.6  109.1   3
Ted Simmons        8680 2472 483  47 248  855  .785  303.8  198.2  105.6   4
Boog Powell        6681 1776 270  11 339 1001  .822  400.6  313.3   87.3   4
Rod Carew          9315 3053 445 112  92 1018  .822  486.2  403.8   82.4   2
Terry Pendleton    7032 1897 356  39 140  486  .707   43.0  -38.4   81.4   6
Reggie Jackson     9864 2584 463  49 563 1375  .846  531.7  450.7   81.0   4
Eddie Murray      11336 3255 560  35 504 1333  .836  463.4  382.7   80.7   4
Tony Perez         9778 2732 505  79 379  925  .804  386.4  309.7   76.7   4
Billy Williams     9317 2706 434  87 426 1044  .855  604.4  530.6   73.8   3
B.J. Surhoff       7955 2248 429  40 183  629  .749   72.3   -0.3   72.7   3
Julio Franco       8189 2457 382  53 161  863  .785  168.4   98.1   70.3   2
Carl Yastrzemski  11988 3419 646  59 452 1845  .841  680.1  610.1   69.9   3
Willie Stargell    7927 2232 423  55 475  937  .889  585.6  516.6   69.0   4
Steve Garvey       8835 2599 440  43 272  479  .775  253.9  185.6   68.3   4
Roberto Clemente   7035 2318 329 124 214  521  .878  458.6  390.9   67.7   3
Mike Piazza        5805 1829 285   6 378  666  .947  425.5  358.0   67.5   3
George Scott       7433 1992 306  60 271  699  .767  179.3  115.3   64.0   4
Bob Watson         6185 1826 307  41 184  653  .811  291.6  228.8   62.8   4
Jason Giambi       4757 1413 296   8 281  871  .951  404.2  342.2   62.0   3
 
Where: ORD - their most common position in the batting order

And the ones with the greatest deficits:

Name                 AB    H  2B  3B  HR   BB   OPS   VABR    LWR   DIFF ORD
Brett Butler       8180 2375 277 131  54 1129  .753  146.5  227.3  -80.8   1
Ralph Garr         5108 1562 212  64  75  246  .755   27.6  101.2  -73.6   1
Larry Bowa         8418 2191 262  99  15  474  .620 -259.2 -186.5  -72.7   2
Davey Lopes        6354 1671 232  50 155  833  .737   32.0  101.5  -69.5   1
Don Baylor         8198 2135 366  28 338  805  .777  118.8  181.6  -62.8 4-5
Willie Wilson      7731 2207 281 147  41  425  .702  -96.0  -37.1  -59.0   1
Paul Blair         6042 1513 282  55 134  449  .684  -73.4  -14.4  -59.0   2
Doug Glanville     3964 1100 166  32  59  208  .695 -123.0  -65.7  -57.3   1
Rick Dempsey       4692 1093 223  12  96  592  .666 -152.9  -95.6  -57.3   9
Vince Coleman      5406 1425 176  89  28  477  .668 -107.6  -50.4  -57.2   1
Frank Taveras      4043 1029 144  44   2  249  .614 -165.7 -109.2  -56.5   1
Richard Hidalgo    3151  861 202  19 155  332  .847   40.2   94.5  -54.3   6
Lou Brock         10332 3023 486 141 149  761  .753  189.3  243.3  -54.0   1
Lenny Dykstra      4559 1298 281  43  81  640  .793  138.7  191.7  -52.9   1
Terry Puhl         4855 1361 226  56  62  505  .737   50.2  101.8  -51.6   1
Fernando Vina      4240 1196 194  49  40  288  .728  -54.7   -3.6  -51.1   1
Chet Lemon         6868 1875 396  61 215  749  .797  122.2  172.9  -50.7 6-7
Tom Brunansky      6289 1543 306  33 271  770  .761   17.9   67.6  -49.8   4
Freddie Patek      5530 1340 216  55  41  523  .633 -162.0 -112.5  -49.5   1
Don Slaught        4063 1151 235  28  77  311  .749  -39.8    9.5  -49.3   7

I added batting order position to these tables because I noticed that the players on the top list were most likely to hit 3rd or 4th in the order (17 of 20) and the players on the bottom list most likely to lead-off (12 of 20). I believe there are two reasons for this. Middle of the order hitters are more likely to hit in valuable situations (runners in scoring position) than hitters at the top of the lineup. As a result, both their successes and failures matter more, but the value of their hits appear to outweigh the cost of their outs. The second reason is probably a limitation in the methodology. Middle of the order hitters are more likely to be up with fast men on base than lead-off hitters. Since the batter is given the benefit of all advances on balls they put into play, this approach disproportionately helps 3rd and 4th place hitters.

At least that was my theory. I decided to test this out by determining the value (expressed both in Value Added and Linear Weight runs) of both good, bad and total events for each lineup position. I broke the plays into 3 groups: the National League, the American League before the DH, and the post-DH American League. The results:

National League
          Value Added          Linear Weights
ORD    POS    NEG    ALL     POS    NEG    ALL   VA-LW
  1   .458  -.232  -.000    .492  -.239   .006   -.006
  2   .486  -.233   .003    .500  -.243   .001    .002
  3   .518  -.237   .038    .528  -.249   .034    .004
  4   .562  -.259   .037    .539  -.251   .034    .003
  5   .558  -.259   .018    .530  -.250   .015    .003
  6   .530  -.253   .004    .520  -.250   .003    .001
  7   .507  -.251  -.011    .505  -.249  -.011   -.000
  8   .470  -.249  -.025    .473  -.248  -.023   -.002
  9   .479  -.245  -.091    .478  -.238  -.086   -.005
 
Pre-DH American League
          Value Added          Linear Weights
ORD    POS    NEG    ALL     POS    NEG    ALL   VA-LW
  1   .447  -.216  -.003    .479  -.224   .002   -.005
  2   .473  -.218   .003    .489  -.227   .002    .001
  3   .503  -.223   .034    .512  -.235   .029    .005
  4   .538  -.242   .034    .519  -.234   .032    .002
  5   .539  -.246   .013    .515  -.234   .014   -.000
  6   .514  -.237   .005    .503  -.235   .003    .002
  7   .492  -.237  -.008    .490  -.235  -.007   -.001
  8   .466  -.236  -.020    .466  -.234  -.019   -.001
  9   .468  -.229  -.082    .462  -.225  -.080   -.002
 
Post-DH American League
          Value Added          Linear Weights
ORD    POS    NEG    ALL     POS    NEG    ALL   VA-LW
  1   .494  -.256  -.002    .516  -.263   .001   -.003
  2   .522  -.260   .001    .527  -.266  -.002    .002
  3   .548  -.263   .026    .553  -.273   .021    .004
  4   .581  -.281   .022    .563  -.273   .021    .001
  5   .573  -.282   .008    .556  -.273   .008    .000
  6   .559  -.275  -.001    .552  -.273  -.002    .001
  7   .542  -.272  -.013    .543  -.271  -.012   -.001
  8   .528  -.272  -.026    .529  -.269  -.024   -.002
  9   .510  -.266  -.035    .518  -.265  -.033   -.003
 
Where: ORD - the batting order position
       POS - the average of the plays with a positive linear weight
       NEG - the average of the plays with a negative linear weight
       ALL - the average of all the plays
       VA-LW - the average difference between the two values

So it does look as if Linear Weight Methods tend to overstate the contribution of lead-off hitters and hitters at the bottom of the order. Or you could argue that it looks as if the Value Added Method overstates the contribution of the hitters in the middle of the order. Both of these statements are probably partially true.

Value Added Stolen Base Runs

In computing Value Added Stolen Base Runs (VASBR), I included the value of each stolen base, caught stealing, pick-off, error attempting a pick-off, defensive indifference and balks. The lead runner was credited with the benefit or cost of each play unless there were runners on first and third and the runner on third didn't attempt the steal or there was a balk. In that case, the runner of record was the man on first. Like before, I gave the runners credit for any extra bases reached during these plays. So if a runner on first tried to steal second and proceeded to third when the catcher's throw sailed into centerfield, that runner got credit for the transition from first to third.

Some classes of plays that I didn't consider part of the running game were wild pitches, passed balls or outs attempting to advance on one of those. I had originally considered these stolen base events but changed my mind once I checked to see if the incidence of these were independent of the speed of the runners involved. I looked at all the games (with play-by-play data) from 1960 to 2004 and counted how often a runner was on first, second and third as well as how often he advanced on a wild pitch, passed ball or was thrown out attempting to advance. I broke these runners down into three categories, using Bill James' speed scores. Runners with a speed score less than 3.0 were considered slow, those with a score more than 5.5 were considered fast, and all the rest were considered average. The rates:

Speed   Base       WP%   PB%   OA%
Slow     1st      1.49  0.41  0.04
Average  1st      1.56  0.43  0.05
Fast     1st      1.46  0.43  0.05
Slow     2nd      1.53  0.42  0.04
Average  2nd      1.69  0.45  0.04
Fast     2nd      1.72  0.47  0.05
Slow     3rd      1.06  0.24  0.09
Average  3rd      1.24  0.30  0.09
Fast     3rd      1.31  0.32  0.08
 
Where:  Base - the base occupied by the runner at the start of the play
        WP%  - wild pitch percentage
        PB%  - passed ball percentage
        OA%  - out attempting an advance percentage

While fast runners were slightly more likely to advance in these situations, it didn't look as though speed made much difference. This is not to say that I ignored these plays; I simply put them in a bucket separate from stolen base runs. For lack of a better term, I called them miscellaneous runs.

The players from 1960 to 2004 with the most Value-Added stolen base runs:

Name              Year  Team    SB  CS VASBR  VAMR
Vince Coleman     1985 STL N   110  25  20.0  -0.8
Maury Wills       1962 LA  N   104  13  18.6   2.0
Rickey Henderson  1988 NY  A    93  13  17.4   3.4
Ron LeFlore       1980 MON N    97  19  16.5  -0.1
Willie Wilson     1980 KC  A    79  10  15.1   2.7
Vince Coleman     1986 STL N   107  14  15.0   2.7
Willie Wilson     1979 KC  A    83  12  14.1   2.5
Rickey Henderson  1985 NY  A    80  10  14.0   4.8
Eric Davis        1986 CIN N    80  11  14.0   3.5
Rickey Henderson  1983 OAK A   108  19  13.2   2.4
Rudy Law          1983 CHI A    77  12  12.8   2.8
Vince Coleman     1987 STL N   109  22  12.3   2.6
Tim Raines        1983 MON N    90  14  12.1   2.8
Tim Raines        1985 MON N    70   9  12.1   2.4
Gary Pettis       1985 CAL A    56   9  11.2   2.6
Ron LeFlore       1979 DET A    78  14  11.1   2.2
Davey Lopes       1975 LA  N    77  12  11.0   4.0
Tim Raines        1984 MON N    75  10  11.0   1.5
Juan Samuel       1984 PHI N    72  15  10.7   0.7
Tim Raines        1986 MON N    70   9  10.6   1.9
 
Where:  VASBR - Value Added Stolen Base Runs
        VAMR  - Value Added Miscellaneous Runs

While our data covers 45 years, all but 2 of the seasons on this list were from one ten-year period, 1979 to 1988.

And those with the lowest number of Value Added stolen base runs:

Name              Year  Team    SB  CS VASBR  VAMR
Jose Cruz         1977 HOU N    44  23  -7.6   1.7
Harold Reynolds   1988 SEA A    35  29  -7.3   1.4
Greg Vaughn       1992 MIL A    15  15  -7.3   1.1
Greg Gross        1974 HOU N    12  20  -7.2   5.0
Steve Henderson   1983 SEA A    10  14  -6.4   0.1
Tony Bernazard    1984 CLE A    20  13  -6.1   0.4
Brett Butler      1991 LA  N    38  28  -5.9   4.1
Will Clark        1987 SF  N     5  17  -5.8   2.0
Dave Parker       1977 PIT N    17  19  -5.7   0.6
Bill Virdon       1962 PIT N     5  13  -5.5   1.1
Al Oliver         1977 PIT N    13  16  -5.5   0.7
Lee Tinsley       1996 PHI-BOS   8  12  -5.5  -0.4

The league leaders each year:

Name              Year  Team    SB  CS VASBR  VAMR
Luis Aparicio     1960 CHI A    51   8   5.3   1.2
Luis Aparicio     1961 CHI A    53  13   5.7   1.9
Jake Wood         1962 DET A    24   3   3.3   1.7
Luis Aparicio     1963 BAL A    40   6   6.5   2.5
Dick Howser       1964 CLE A    20   7   3.9   3.5
Luis Aparicio     1965 BAL A    26   7   3.8   0.8
Bert Campaneris   1966 KC  A    52  10   6.9   3.7
Bert Campaneris   1967 KC  A    55  16   8.9   2.1
Davey Johnson     1968 BAL A     7   3   2.9   1.9
Bert Campaneris   1969 OAK A    62   8   6.5   2.1
Amos Otis         1970 KC  A    33   2   6.3   0.1
Amos Otis         1971 KC  A    52   8   6.7  -0.2
Bert Campaneris   1972 OAK A    52  14   5.1   1.9
Tommy Harper      1973 BOS A    54  14   7.8   1.3
Paul Blair        1974 BAL A    27   9   5.0   1.4
Mickey Rivers     1975 CAL A    70  14   8.8   2.6
Mickey Rivers     1976 NY  A    43   7   8.4   1.2
Mitchell Page     1977 OAK A    42   5   6.0   1.9
Julio Cruz        1978 SEA A    59  10   8.1   3.1
Willie Wilson     1979 KC  A    83  12  14.1   2.5
Willie Wilson     1980 KC  A    79  10  15.1   2.7
Rick Manning      1981 CLE A    25   3   5.6   1.4
Rickey Henderson  1982 OAK A   130  42   6.9   2.5
Rickey Henderson  1983 OAK A   108  19  13.2   2.4
Willie Wilson     1984 KC  A    47   5   7.9   1.6
Rickey Henderson  1985 NY  A    80  10  14.0   4.8
Gary Pettis       1986 CAL A    50  13   6.0   3.5
Willie Wilson     1987 KC  A    59  11   6.8   3.2
Rickey Henderson  1988 NY  A    93  13  17.4   3.4
Rickey Henderson  1989 NYA-OAK  77  14   8.4   2.6
Steve Sax         1990 NY  A    43   9   6.0   1.0
Rickey Henderson  1991 OAK A    58  18   6.3   1.1
Roberto Alomar    1992 TOR A    49   9   5.8   2.2
Kenny Lofton      1993 CLE A    70  14   9.9   1.0
Kenny Lofton      1994 CLE A    60  12   5.2   3.0
Lance Johnson     1995 CHI A    40   6   7.1   2.8
Kenny Lofton      1996 CLE A    75  17   5.5   2.5
Brian Hunter      1997 DET A    74  18   6.3   3.1
Rickey Henderson  1998 OAK A    66  13   6.3   2.0
Brian Hunter      1999 DET-SEA  44   8   4.6   3.8
Johnny Damon      2000 KC  A    46   9   5.1   3.5
Ichiro Suzuki     2001 SEA A    56  14   6.8   1.8
Derek Jeter       2002 NY  A    32   3   4.8   1.2
Carlos Beltran    2003 KC  A    41   4   7.5   1.4
Carl Crawford     2004 TB  A    59  15   5.4   4.1
Name              Year  Team    SB  CS VASBR  VAMR
Maury Wills       1960 LA  N    50  12   6.0   0.6
Frank Robinson    1961 CIN N    22   3   3.4   2.0
Maury Wills       1962 LA  N   104  13  18.6   2.0
Hank Aaron        1963 MIL N    31   5   4.0   1.4
Hank Aaron        1964 MIL N    22   4   2.8   2.5
Tommy Harper      1965 CIN N    35   6   5.8   3.4
Lou Brock         1966 STL N    74  18   6.5   1.8
Lou Brock         1967 STL N    52  18   5.3   1.8
Lou Brock         1968 STL N    62  12   6.2   1.5
Bobby Bonds       1969 SF  N    45   4   7.8   1.3
Bobby Bonds       1970 SF  N    48  10   6.2   1.4
Lou Brock         1971 STL N    64  19   5.7   2.4
Bobby Bonds       1972 SF  N    44   6   8.5   2.4
Joe Morgan        1973 CIN N    67  15   6.0   2.5
Lou Brock         1974 STL N   118  33   7.7   3.0
Davey Lopes       1975 LA  N    77  12  11.0   4.0
Joe Morgan        1976 CIN N    60   9   6.4   2.1
Larry Bowa        1977 PHI N    32   3   6.6   2.9
Davey Lopes       1978 LA  N    45   4   9.8   3.5
Omar Moreno       1979 PIT N    77  21   6.5   1.9
Ron LeFlore       1980 MON N    97  19  16.5  -0.1
Tim Raines        1981 MON N    71  11   8.8   2.1
Tim Raines        1982 MON N    78  16   9.0   1.6
Tim Raines        1983 MON N    90  14  12.1   2.8
Tim Raines        1984 MON N    75  10  11.0   1.5
Vince Coleman     1985 STL N   110  25  20.0  -0.8
Vince Coleman     1986 STL N   107  14  15.0   2.7
Vince Coleman     1987 STL N   109  22  12.3   2.6
Vince Coleman     1988 STL N    81  27   8.3   0.9
Vince Coleman     1989 STL N    65  10   5.9   1.0
Vince Coleman     1990 STL N    77  17   4.7   2.8
Marquis Grissom   1991 MON N    76  17   8.6   3.5
Marquis Grissom   1992 MON N    78  13   8.3   3.5
Marquis Grissom   1993 MON N    53  10   7.5  -0.1
Craig Biggio      1994 HOU N    39   4   6.4   2.7
Barry Larkin      1995 CIN N    51   5   8.0   3.4
Walt Weiss        1996 COL N    10   2   3.6   2.3
Tony Womack       1997 PIT N    60   7   8.3   1.1
Tony Womack       1998 PIT N    58   8   7.5   0.4
Tony Womack       1999 ARI N    72  13   8.3   4.5
Tom Goodwin       2000 COL-LAN  55  10   6.0   2.5
Jimmy Rollins     2001 PHI N    46   8   5.6   0.4
Luis Castillo     2002 FLA N    48  15   5.5   3.4
Scott Podsednik   2003 MIL N    43  10   5.4   0.8
Dave Roberts      2004 LA  N    33   1   5.6   1.0

And the career leaders:

Name                SB  CS  VASBR   VAMR
Rickey Henderson  1406 335  118.0   45.5
Tim Raines         806 146   95.3   40.2
Willie Wilson      668 134   89.6   30.1
Vince Coleman      752 177   75.3   19.0
Paul Molitor       504 131   61.1   37.0
Joe Morgan         689 162   59.3   41.7
Lou Brock          938 307   58.9   29.0
Davey Lopes        557 114   56.1   23.5
Ozzie Smith        580 148   53.8   28.1
Ron LeFlore        455 142   47.0   14.6
Eric Davis         349  66   43.3   14.4
Bert Campaneris    649 199   42.9   33.3
Tommy Harper       408 116   36.5   24.6
Barry Larkin       379  77   36.5   33.4
Marquis Grissom    428 115   34.7   25.1
Tony Womack        335  68   34.5   13.0
Roberto Alomar     474 114   33.5   31.1
Amos Otis          341  93   33.3   10.4
Otis Nixon         620 186   33.2   27.5
Cesar Cedeno       550 179   32.8   26.8
Gary Redus         322  83   32.8   14.7

The career trailers:

Name                SB  CS  VASBR   VAMR
Chet Lemon          58  76  -22.4   17.9
Duane Kuiper        52  71  -21.5    7.4
Bob Bailey          85  83  -21.3   22.8
Greg Gagne         108  96  -18.9   14.1
Tim Wallach         51  66  -18.1   18.0
Tom Brunansky       69  70  -17.7   15.1
Len Randle         156 112  -16.6   13.1
Harold Reynolds    250 138  -16.4   15.2
Jose Offerman      172 100  -16.2   16.1
Jay Johnstone       50  54  -16.1   14.6

Notice that the negative leaders are much closer to zero than the top base runners. I take this to mean that if you're a bad base stealer, eventually you stop running. Also notice that the Value Added Miscellaneous Runs are typically much higher on the "best" list than the "worst".

Speaking of Miscellaneous Runs, here are the top seasonal totals:

Name              Year  Team    SB  CS VASBR  VAMR
Lou Whitaker      1987 DET A    13   5   2.3   7.9
Scott Fletcher    1987 TEX A    13  12  -0.7   7.3
Tony Phillips     1996 CHI A    13   8  -1.8   6.4
Cesar Tovar       1967 MIN A    19  11   1.3   6.3
Glenn Beckert     1970 CHI N     4   1  -0.2   6.3
Lee Maye          1964 MIL N     5  10  -0.8   5.9
Alan Wiggins      1983 SD  N    66  13   9.9   5.9
Craig Biggio      2001 HOU N     7   4   0.9   5.9
Chuck Knoblauch   1991 MIN A    25   5  -0.1   5.8
Curt Flood        1967 STL N     2   2  -0.1   5.6

In 1987, Lou Whitaker was the lead runner when 12 wild pitches were thrown and 7 passed balls committed. Two of these occurred with the bases loaded and a total of 6 runs scored on those 19 plays. Scott Fletcher was the lead runner for even more of these plays (16 wild pitches and 4 passed balls), but only 3 runs scored as a result.

It doesn't look like success stealing bases is a common characteristic of these players, as six of the ten had negative Stolen Base Runs.

The top career totals:

Name                SB  CS  VASBR   VAMR
Pete Rose          198 149   -3.2   48.8
Craig Biggio       396 118   23.9   47.6
Rickey Henderson  1406 335  118.0   45.5
Joe Morgan         689 162   59.3   41.7
Tim Raines         806 146   95.3   40.2
Carl Yastrzemski   168 116   -7.3   39.4
Lou Whitaker       143  75    7.9   38.5
Wade Boggs          24  35   -6.9   38.3
Brett Butler       558 257   -1.8   37.6
Paul Molitor       504 131   61.1   37.0
Tony Phillips      177 114   -5.7   35.9
Rod Carew          353 187   15.3   35.3
Robin Yount        271 105   10.8   35.3
Eddie Murray       110  43    5.5   35.0
Alan Trammell      236 109    3.1   34.3
Barry Larkin       379  77   36.5   33.4
Billy Williams      90  49    2.4   33.3
Bert Campaneris    649 199   42.9   33.3
George Brett       201  97    5.8   32.4
Tony Fernandez     246 138  -10.0   32.3
Rusty Staub         47  33   -4.2   32.1

I'm not sure whether the names on this list justifies my decision to keep these separate from Stolen Base Runs. Six of these players are also on the list of top career base stealers. On the other hand, this list does include several slow players like Boggs, Murray and Staub. (Okay, I admit to extending the list to 21 names so I could include Rusty.) Still, the median Stolen Base Runs of the players on this list is only 5.8.

Value Added Versus Linear Weights, Part 2

So how do Value Added Stolen Base Runs compare to our linear weight method? Once again, I will show this through two lists. The first, the players with the greatest positive difference between their Stolen Base Runs and Linear Weight Runs:

Name              Year  Team    SB  CS VASBR LWSBR  DIFF
Ron LeFlore       1980 MON N    97  19  16.5  10.5   6.0
Rickey Henderson  1988 NY  A    93  13  17.4  11.6   5.8
Vince Coleman     1985 STL N   110  25  20.0  14.6   5.4
Paul Molitor      1988 MIL A    41  10   8.3   3.3   5.0
Bobby Tolan       1975 SD  N    11  13   1.4  -3.4   4.8
Steve Sax         1983 LA  N    56  30   2.2  -2.1   4.3
Delino DeShields  1995 LA  N    39  14   5.8   1.5   4.3
C. Washington     1976 OAK A    37  20   4.2  -0.0   4.2
Bip Roberts       1989 SD  N    21  11   3.4  -0.9   4.2
Lonnie Smith      1982 STL N    68  26   4.2   0.1   4.1
Brett Butler      1988 SF  N    43  20   4.5   0.4   4.1
 
Where:  LWSBR - Linear Weight Stolen Base Runs

And those with the greatest negative difference:

Name              Year  Team    SB  CS VASBR LWSBR  DIFF
Kenny Lofton      1992 CLE A    66  12   0.6   6.7  -6.1
Jose Cruz         1977 HOU N    44  23  -7.6  -2.1  -5.5
Tony Bernazard    1984 CLE A    20  13  -6.1  -1.6  -4.5
Mark McLemore     2001 SEA A    39   7  -0.3   4.0  -4.4
Dave Collins      1985 OAK A    29   8  -1.3   3.0  -4.3
Toby Harrah       1975 TEX A    23   9  -2.8   1.3  -4.1
Julio Cruz        1983 SEA-CHA  57  12   2.2   6.2  -4.0
Chuck Knoblauch   1995 MIN A    46  18  -3.7   0.1  -3.8
Greg Vaughn       1992 MIL A    15  15  -7.3  -3.7  -3.7
Don Baylor        1978 CAL A    22   9  -3.1   0.5  -3.7

On the surface, these numbers appear absurd. How could Bobby Tolan, with a success rate of only 45.8% (11 of 24), contribute more runs to his team than Kenny Lofton, successful on 84.6% of his attempts (66 of 78), or Mark McLemore, successful 84.8% of the time (39 of 46)? The answer is two fold: not all stolen bases or caught stealing are created equal. Some are extremely valuable (or costly) and others aren't. In addition, not all bad or good outcomes are reflected in the traditional statistics. Pickoffs, for example, are not counted as caught stealing unless, once picked off, the runner heads for the next base, and balks or errors attempting a pickoff are not credited to base runners.

In 1992, 35 of Lofton's steals were either 1-out or 2-out steals of second base. From the chart at the beginning of the article, we can determine that a 1-out steal of second was worth an average of .136 runs (.646 - .510) and that a 2-out steal of second was worth an average of only .082 runs (.293 - .211). So his 18 1-out and 17 2-out steals of second were worth a total of 3.842 runs. On the other hand, Lofton was picked off first base with no one out 6 times, each one with a cost of .595 runs (.853 - .258), for a total loss of 3.57 runs. So if Lofton had been involved in no other running plays that year, he would have officially had 35 stolen bases and 0 caught stealing with a Value Added worth of only 0.27 runs. He also got picked off on 3 other occasions and, in general, his caught stealings were often for more costly than his stolen bases were valuable.

Bobby Tolan was the other side of this coin. Six times, Tolan was the lead runner when the opposing pitcher balked; no pitcher balked while Lofton was the lead runner. On two occasions, Tolan reached safely when charged with a caught stealing because the fielder mishandled the throw, twice he took an extra base when the catcher threw the ball into centerfield, and he advanced once on an error on a pickoff attempt. Taken collectively, these are 11 positive plays that go into the book as 0 stolen bases and 2 caught stealing.

The largest positive differences over the course of a career:

Name                SB  CS VASBR LWSBR  DIFF
Paul Molitor       504 131  61.1  41.6  19.5
Pete Rose          198 149  -3.2 -22.5  19.3
Rod Carew          353 187  15.3  -3.0  18.3
Carney Lansford    224 104  12.1  -1.1  13.2
Willie Wilson      668 134  89.6  76.5  13.1
Ron LeFlore        455 142  47.0  34.2  12.9
Lou Whitaker       143  75   7.9  -4.2  12.1
Tony Phillips      177 114  -5.7 -17.0  11.3
Brian Downing       50  44   1.9  -8.7  10.6
Dave Winfield      223  96  11.7   1.4  10.2

And the largest negative differences:

Name                SB  CS VASBR LWSBR  DIFF
Chuck Knoblauch    407 117   5.2  21.0 -15.7
Jose Cruz          317 136 -11.1   2.4 -13.5
Julio Cruz         343  78  26.4  36.6 -10.2
Tony Bernazard     113  55 -11.8  -1.7 -10.1
Von Hayes          253  97  -1.4   8.0  -9.4
Mike Cameron       216  59   2.4  11.4  -9.0
Bert Campaneris    649 199  42.9  51.4  -8.5
Brady Anderson     315 100   4.9  13.0  -8.2
Felix Jose         102  57 -12.9  -5.1  -7.7
Pokey Reese        144  26   7.4  14.5  -7.1
Kenny Lofton       545 145  26.6  33.7  -7.1

Value Added Total Offensive Runs

If we take the Stolen Base Runs we computed in the last section and add those to the Batting Runs (adjusted for both park and defensive position), we come up with the following top offensive performances from 1960 to 2004:

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS A/POS VASBR VATOR
Barry Bonds       2001 SF  N   476 156 32  2 73 177 1.379 108.2   0.3 108.5
Barry Bonds       2002 SF  N   403 149 31  2 46 198 1.381 102.0   0.7 102.6
Barry Bonds       2004 SF  N   373 135 27  3 45 232 1.422  96.4   1.0  97.5
Joe Morgan        1976 CIN N   472 151 30  5 27 114 1.020  80.7   6.4  87.0
Mickey Mantle     1961 NY  A   514 163 16  6 54 126 1.135  85.9   0.9  86.7
Alex Rodriguez    1996 SEA A   601 215 54  1 36  59 1.045  81.4   1.0  82.4
Joe Morgan        1972 CIN N   552 161 23  4 16 115  .851  77.4   3.8  81.3
Barry Bonds       1996 SF  N   517 159 27  3 42 151 1.076  79.3   1.2  80.5
Alex Rodriguez    2000 SEA A   554 175 34  2 41 100 1.026  79.5   0.5  79.9
Joe Morgan        1975 CIN N   498 163 27  6 17 132  .974  71.1   8.0  79.2
Jason Giambi      2000 OAK A   510 170 29  1 43 137 1.123  77.8   0.8  78.7
Mike Piazza       1997 LA  N   556 201 32  1 40  69 1.070  77.7  -0.1  77.6
Barry Bonds       1993 SF  N   539 181 38  4 46 126 1.136  74.2   1.9  76.1
Robin Yount       1982 MIL A   635 210 46 12 29  54  .957  73.7   1.4  75.0
George Brett      1980 KC  A   449 175 33  9 24  58 1.118  72.2   0.8  73.0
Mickey Mantle     1962 NY  A   377 121 15  1 30 122 1.091  70.1   1.7  71.7
Sammy Sosa        2001 CHI N   577 189 34  5 64 116 1.174  71.3  -0.8  70.5
Jeff Kent         2000 SF  N   587 196 41  7 33  90 1.021  71.1  -1.7  69.4
Mark McGwire      1998 STL N   509 152 21  0 70 162 1.222  69.0   0.4  69.3
Derek Jeter       1999 NY  A   627 219 37  9 24  91  .989  68.5   0.4  68.9
 
Where: VATOR - the final value-added total offensive runs.

In addition to having the top 3 seasons and 5 of the top 13, Barry Bonds also has #26 (2003), #33 (1992), #35 (1998), #55 (1991) and #72 (2000), for a total of 10 of the top 80 seasons.

And the worst:

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS A/POS VASBR VATOR
Neifi Perez       2002 KC  A   554 131 20  4  3  20  .564 -51.0  -2.8 -53.8
George Wright     1985 TEX A   363  69 13  0  2  25  .483 -50.5  -2.2 -52.7
Bill Virdon       1962 PIT N   663 164 27 10  6  36  .631 -45.4  -5.5 -50.9
Scott Brosius     1997 OAK A   479  97 20  1 11  34  .576 -48.7   0.4 -48.3
J.T. Snow         1996 CAL A   575 148 20  1 17  56  .711 -44.6  -2.5 -47.1
Mike Caruso       1999 CHI A   529 132 11  4  2  20  .577 -41.3  -4.9 -46.2
Chris Truby       2002 MON-DET 382  82 18  4  4  10  .552 -42.8   0.1 -42.7
Darin Erstad      1999 ANA A   585 148 22  5 13  47  .683 -41.2  -1.2 -42.4
Derek Bell        1999 HOU N   509 120 22  0 12  50  .656 -43.1   1.6 -41.5
Glenn Wilson      1987 PHI N   569 150 21  2 14  38  .689 -37.4  -2.3 -39.7
Cristian Guzman   1999 MIN A   420  95 12  3  1  22  .543 -38.2  -1.3 -39.5
Doug Glanville    2000 PHI N   637 175 27  6  8  31  .681 -39.6   1.0 -38.6
Mark Kotsay       1999 FLA N   495 134 23  9  8  29  .708 -38.1   0.4 -37.7
Jose Hernandez    2003 3 Teams 519 117 18  3 13  46  .634 -37.9   0.2 -37.7
Don Mattingly     1995 NY  A   458 132 32  2  7  40  .754 -37.6  -0.2 -37.7
Paul Householder  1982 CIN N   417  88 11  5  9  30  .592 -34.3  -3.3 -37.6
Vic Power         1961 CLE A   563 151 34  4  5  38  .679 -38.8   1.2 -37.6
Pete O'Brien      1990 SEA A   366  82 18  0  5  44  .622 -37.5   0.0 -37.5
Danny Bautista    1995 DET A   271  55  9  0  7  12  .550 -37.5   0.5 -37.0
Mario Mendoza     1979 SEA A   373  74 10  3  1   9  .466 -36.5  -0.5 -37.0

All in all, factoring in base running did little to change these lists. The same is true for the league leaders.

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS A/POS VASBR VATOR
Mickey Mantle     1960 NY  A   527 145 17  6 40 111  .957  50.0   0.9  51.0
Mickey Mantle     1961 NY  A   514 163 16  6 54 126 1.135  85.9   0.9  86.7
Mickey Mantle     1962 NY  A   377 121 15  1 30 122 1.091  70.1   1.7  71.7
Al Kaline         1963 DET A   551 172 24  3 27  54  .889  30.1   1.0  31.2
Mickey Mantle     1964 NY  A   465 141 25  2 35  99 1.015  58.4   0.1  58.5
Don Buford        1965 CHI A   586 166 22  5 10  67  .747  33.2   0.9  34.1
Frank Robinson    1966 BAL A   576 182 34  2 49  87 1.047  58.3  -2.9  55.4
Carl Yastrzemski  1967 BOS A   579 189 31  4 44  91 1.040  53.0  -0.3  52.7
Bill Freehan      1968 DET A   540 142 24  2 25  65  .819  41.7  -1.1  40.6
Harmon Killebrew  1969 MIN A   555 153 20  2 49 145 1.011  68.2   0.1  68.3
Frank Howard      1970 WAS A   566 160 15  1 44 132  .962  49.2   0.5  49.7
Bobby Murcer      1971 NY  A   529 175 25  6 25  91  .969  59.2   0.6  59.9
Dick Allen        1972 CHI A   506 156 28  5 37  99 1.023  51.6   2.7  54.3
Reggie Jackson    1973 OAK A   539 158 28  2 32  76  .914  58.1   0.2  58.3
Rod Carew         1974 MIN A   599 218 30  5  3  74  .879  44.3   2.3  46.6
Toby Harrah       1975 TEX A   522 153 24  1 20  98  .861  56.1  -2.8  53.3
Bobby Grich       1976 BAL A   518 138 31  4 13  86  .790  37.2   0.5  37.7
Rod Carew         1977 MIN A   616 239 38 16 14  69 1.019  60.5   1.5  62.0
Jim Rice          1978 BOS A   677 213 25 15 46  58  .970  37.4  -0.0  37.4
Darrell Porter    1979 KC  A   533 155 23 10 20 121  .905  56.7  -1.0  55.7
George Brett      1980 KC  A   449 175 33  9 24  58 1.118  72.2   0.8  73.0
Bobby Grich       1981 CAL A   352 107 14  2 22  40  .921  28.8   0.2  29.1
Robin Yount       1982 MIL A   635 210 46 12 29  54  .957  73.7   1.4  75.0
Wade Boggs        1983 BOS A   582 210 44  7  5  92  .931  53.2   1.3  54.5
Cal Ripken        1984 BAL A   641 195 37  7 27  71  .884  56.2   0.7  56.9
George Brett      1985 KC  A   550 184 38  5 30 103 1.022  56.6   1.1  57.7
Wade Boggs        1986 BOS A   580 207 47  2  8 105  .939  54.1  -2.1  52.0
Alan Trammell     1987 DET A   597 205 34  3 28  60  .953  56.8   1.5  58.2
Jose Canseco      1988 OAK A   610 187 34  0 42  78  .959  45.0   0.5  45.6
Robin Yount       1989 MIL A   614 195 38  9 21  63  .896  46.3   1.7  48.0
Rickey Henderson  1990 OAK A   489 159 33  3 28  97 1.016  44.9   5.9  50.8
Cal Ripken        1991 BAL A   650 210 46  5 34  53  .940  66.5   0.5  67.1
Frank Thomas      1992 CHI A   573 185 46  2 24 122  .975  48.0  -0.5  47.4
Chris Hoiles      1993 BAL A   419 130 28  0 29  69 1.001  49.5   0.1  49.6
Frank Thomas      1994 CHI A   399 141 34  1 38 109 1.217  49.3  -0.7  48.5
Edgar Martinez    1995 SEA A   511 182 52  0 29 116 1.107  68.2  -0.6  67.6
Alex Rodriguez    1996 SEA A   601 215 54  1 36  59 1.045  81.4   1.0  82.4
Ken Griffey       1997 SEA A   608 185 34  3 56  76 1.028  58.6   0.7  59.3
Derek Jeter       1998 NY  A   626 203 25  8 19  57  .864  57.0   2.4  59.4
Derek Jeter       1999 NY  A   627 219 37  9 24  91  .989  68.5   0.4  68.9
Alex Rodriguez    2000 SEA A   554 175 34  2 41 100 1.026  79.5   0.5  79.9
Jason Giambi      2001 OAK A   520 178 47  2 38 129 1.137  67.5  -0.7  66.8
Manny Ramirez     2002 BOS A   436 152 31  0 33  73 1.097  61.2   0.7  61.8
Jorge Posada      2003 NY  A   481 135 24  0 30  93  .922  56.2   0.2  56.4
Melvin Mora       2004 BAL A   550 187 41  0 27  66  .981  42.5  -0.3  42.2
Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS A/POS VASBR VATOR
Eddie Mathews     1960 MIL N   548 152 19  7 39 111  .948  62.9   0.5  63.4
Willie Mays       1961 SF  N   572 176 32  3 40  81  .977  51.5  -1.7  49.8
Willie Mays       1962 SF  N   621 189 36  5 49  78  .999  46.1   3.4  49.5
Hank Aaron        1963 MIL N   631 201 29  4 44  78  .977  61.3   4.0  65.3
Willie Mays       1964 SF  N   578 171 21  9 47  82  .990  50.5   2.0  52.5
Pete Rose         1965 CIN N   670 209 35 11 11  69  .828  48.4  -0.4  48.0
Dick Allen        1966 PHI N   524 166 25 10 40  68 1.027  53.5  -0.1  53.3
Roberto Clemente  1967 PIT N   585 209 26 10 23  41  .954  51.7   1.9  53.5
Willie McCovey    1968 SF  N   523 153 16  4 36  72  .923  37.0   0.1  37.1
Willie McCovey    1969 SF  N   491 157 26  2 45 121 1.108  64.7   0.2  64.9
Denis Menke       1970 HOU N   562 171 26  6 13  82  .833  57.9  -0.2  57.8
Joe Torre         1971 STL N   634 230 34  8 24  63  .976  59.6   1.1  60.6
Joe Morgan        1972 CIN N   552 161 23  4 16 115  .851  77.4   3.8  81.3
Joe Morgan        1973 CIN N   576 167 35  2 26 111  .899  61.8   6.0  67.8
Joe Morgan        1974 CIN N   512 150 31  3 22 120  .921  47.8   6.1  53.9
Joe Morgan        1975 CIN N   498 163 27  6 17 132  .974  71.1   8.0  79.2
Joe Morgan        1976 CIN N   472 151 30  5 27 114 1.020  80.7   6.4  87.0
Joe Morgan        1977 CIN N   521 150 21  6 22 117  .895  45.0   1.5  46.5
Dave Parker       1978 PIT N   581 194 32 12 30  57  .979  38.9   2.4  41.3
Dave Winfield     1979 SD  N   597 184 27 10 34  85  .953  44.1  -0.7  43.4
Ted Simmons       1980 STL N   495 150 33  2 21  59  .880  37.4   0.5  37.9
Mike Schmidt      1981 PHI N   354 112 19  2 31  73 1.080  39.9   1.3  41.2
Pedro Guerrero    1982 LA  N   575 175 27  5 32  65  .914  36.9   1.1  38.0
Jose Cruz         1983 HOU N   594 189 28  8 14  65  .848  44.9  -1.6  43.3
Jose Cruz         1984 HOU N   600 187 28 13 12  73  .842  42.0   1.3  43.2
Tom Herr          1985 STL N   596 180 38  3  8  80  .795  45.1   6.2  51.3
Mike Schmidt      1986 PHI N   552 160 29  1 37  89  .937  35.4  -0.6  34.8
D. Strawberry     1987 NY  N   532 151 32  5 39  97  .981  53.3   2.2  55.5
Barry Larkin      1988 CIN N   588 174 32  5 12  41  .776  30.1   5.8  36.0
Howard Johnson    1989 NY  N   571 164 41  3 36  77  .928  47.7   5.3  53.0
Barry Bonds       1990 PIT N   519 156 32  3 33  93  .970  45.7   2.2  47.9
Barry Bonds       1991 PIT N   510 149 28  5 25 107  .924  53.3   5.2  58.5
Barry Bonds       1992 PIT N   473 147 36  5 34 127 1.080  60.3   4.0  64.3
Barry Bonds       1993 SF  N   539 181 38  4 46 126 1.136  74.2   1.9  76.1
Jeff Bagwell      1994 HOU N   400 147 32  2 39  65 1.201  55.4   1.1  56.4
Mike Piazza       1995 LA  N   434 150 17  0 32  39 1.006  51.4   0.3  51.7
Barry Bonds       1996 SF  N   517 159 27  3 42 151 1.076  79.3   1.2  80.5
Mike Piazza       1997 LA  N   556 201 32  1 40  69 1.070  77.7  -0.1  77.6
Mark McGwire      1998 STL N   509 152 21  0 70 162 1.222  69.0   0.4  69.3
Chipper Jones     1999 ATL N   567 181 41  1 45 126 1.074  49.6   4.5  54.1
Jeff Kent         2000 SF  N   587 196 41  7 33  90 1.021  71.1  -1.7  69.4
Barry Bonds       2001 SF  N   476 156 32  2 73 177 1.379 108.2   0.3 108.5
Barry Bonds       2002 SF  N   403 149 31  2 46 198 1.381 102.0   0.7 102.6
Barry Bonds       2003 SF  N   390 133 22  1 45 148 1.278  64.8   1.3  66.1
Barry Bonds       2004 SF  N   373 135 27  3 45 232 1.422  96.4   1.0  97.5

Factoring in Stolen Base Runs caused the following changes in the league leaders:

1963 AL  Al Kaline over Earl Battey
1974 AL  Rod Carew over Jeff Burroughs
1978 AL  Jim Rice over Larry Hisle
1993 AL  Chris Hoiles over John Olerud
2004 AL  Melvin Mora over Carlos Guillen
1962 NL  Willie Mays over Tommy Davis
1974 NL  Joe Morgan over Johnny Bench
1985 NL  Tommy Herr over Pedro Guerrero
1988 NL  Barry Larkin over Darryl Strawberry
1989 NL  Howard Johnson over Will Clark
1999 NL  Chipper Jones over Brian Giles

I thought it might be fun to look at the worst marks each year.

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS A/POS VASBR VATOR
Ken Hamlin        1960 KC  A   428  96 10  2  2  44  .568 -20.6  -1.7 -22.4
Vic Power         1961 CLE A   563 151 34  4  5  38  .679 -38.8   1.2 -37.6
Jim Piersall      1962 WAS A   471 115 20  4  4  39  .630 -30.0  -1.4 -31.4
Lou Clinton       1963 BOS A   560 130 23  7 22  49  .710 -26.1  -0.6 -26.7
Tom Satriano      1964 LA  A   255  51  9  0  1  30  .529 -22.4  -1.6 -24.0
Mike Hershberger  1965 KC  A   494 114 15  5  5  37  .601 -33.0  -0.3 -33.4
Sam Bowens        1966 BAL A   243  51  9  1  6  17  .605 -21.2   0.3 -20.9
Jose Tartabull    1967 BOS A   247  55  1  2  0  23  .530 -25.1   0.4 -24.7
George Scott      1968 BOS A   350  60 14  0  3  26  .473 -33.0  -2.0 -35.1
Aur. Rodriguez    1969 CAL A   561 130 17  2  7  32  .579 -27.6  -0.3 -27.9
Horace Clarke     1970 NY  A   686 172 24  2  4  35  .595 -32.6   2.3 -30.3
Aur. Rodriguez    1971 DET A   604 153 30  7 15  27  .688 -29.6  -2.4 -31.9
Del Unser         1972 CLE A   383  91 12  0  1  28  .565 -17.2  -2.4 -19.5
Mike Epstein      1973 TEX-CAL 397  83 11  2  9  48  .619 -25.6   0.4 -25.2
Deron Johnson     1974 3 Teams 351  60  4  2 13  32  .542 -33.4   0.3 -33.1
Paul Blair        1975 BAL A   440  96 13  4  5  25  .557 -28.3  -1.1 -29.4
Paul Blair        1976 BAL A   375  74 16  0  3  22  .509 -34.5   1.3 -33.2
Rob Picciolo      1977 OAK A   419  84 12  3  2   9  .475 -30.1  -1.2 -31.3
Leroy Stanton     1978 SEA A   302  55 11  0  3  34  .514 -25.8  -1.3 -27.1
Mario Mendoza     1979 SEA A   373  74 10  3  1   9  .466 -36.5  -0.5 -37.0
Hosken Powell     1980 MIN A   485 127 17  5  6  32  .666 -26.9   0.7 -26.2
Danny Ainge       1981 TOR A   246  46  6  2  0  23  .486 -20.4  -1.0 -21.4
Larry Milbourne   1982 3 Teams 416 107 13  5  2  20  .616 -23.5  -3.1 -26.6
Rick Manning      1983 CLE-MIL 569 140 20  4  4  38  .609 -29.0   0.7 -28.4
Bob Boone         1984 CAL A   450  91 16  1  3  25  .504 -31.9  -1.0 -32.9
George Wright     1985 TEX A   363  69 13  0  2  25  .483 -50.5  -2.2 -52.7
Tim Hulett        1986 CHI A   520 120 16  5 17  21  .639 -35.1  -0.4 -35.5
Angel Salazar     1987 KC  A   317  65  7  0  2   6  .465 -34.7  -1.0 -35.7
Billy Ripken      1988 BAL A   512 106 18  1  2  33  .518 -28.9   0.1 -28.7
Cory Snyder       1989 CLE A   489 105 17  0 18  23  .611 -31.0  -1.1 -32.2
Pete O'Brien      1990 SEA A   366  82 18  0  5  44  .622 -37.5   0.0 -37.5
Billy Ripken      1991 BAL A   287  62 11  1  0  15  .515 -29.0  -0.4 -29.4
Steve Sax         1992 CHI A   567 134 26  4  4  43  .607 -30.4  -0.4 -30.8
Dave McCarty      1993 MIN A   350  75 15  2  2  19  .542 -35.2  -1.7 -36.9
Dan Wilson        1994 SEA A   282  61 14  2  3  10  .556 -26.4  -1.0 -27.4
Don Mattingly     1995 NY  A   458 132 32  2  7  40  .754 -37.6  -0.2 -37.7
J.T. Snow         1996 CAL A   575 148 20  1 17  56  .711 -44.6  -2.5 -47.1
Scott Brosius     1997 OAK A   479  97 20  1 11  34  .576 -48.7   0.4 -48.3
John Flaherty     1998 TB  A   304  63 11  0  3  22  .534 -34.7  -1.1 -35.8
Mike Caruso       1999 CHI A   529 132 11  4  2  20  .577 -41.3  -4.9 -46.2
Ron Coomer        2000 MIN A   544 147 29  1 16  36  .733 -34.8   1.0 -33.8
Shea Hillenbrand  2001 BOS A   468 123 20  2 12  13  .682 -26.2  -1.9 -28.0
Neifi Perez       2002 KC  A   554 131 20  4  3  20  .564 -51.0  -2.8 -53.8
Shane Halter      2003 DET A   360  78  5  2 12  27  .611 -30.1  -1.2 -31.2
Scott Spiezio     2004 SEA A   367  79 12  3 10  36  .634 -28.8   0.2 -28.6
Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS A/POS VASBR VATOR
Ken Walters       1960 PHI N   426 102 10  0  8  16  .585 -36.5  -0.3 -36.8
Charlie James     1961 STL N   349  89 19  2  4  15  .644 -29.3  -0.6 -29.9
Bill Virdon       1962 PIT N   663 164 27 10  6  36  .631 -45.4  -5.5 -50.9
Bob Lillis        1963 HOU N   469  93 13  1  1  15  .466 -25.9  -0.0 -25.9
Bill Virdon       1964 PIT N   473 115 11  3  3  30  .585 -29.6  -1.5 -31.0
Bob Aspromonte    1965 HOU N   578 152 15  2  5  38  .632 -31.8  -0.9 -32.7
Bob Aspromonte    1966 HOU N   560 141 16  3  8  35  .631 -27.8  -1.3 -29.1
Donn Clendenon    1967 PIT N   478 119 15  2 13  34  .668 -24.3  -1.1 -25.3
Hal Lanier        1968 SF  N   486 100 14  1  0  12  .461 -30.9  -0.1 -31.0
Jesus Alou        1969 HOU N   452 112 19  4  5  15  .617 -31.5  -0.9 -32.4
Tommy Helms       1970 CIN N   575 136 21  1  1  21  .543 -34.8   0.1 -34.8
Sonny Jackson     1971 ATL N   547 141 20  5  2  35  .626 -29.4  -0.2 -29.6
Randy Hundley     1972 CHI N   357  78 12  0  5  22  .555 -24.4   0.1 -24.2
Bobby Tolan       1973 CIN N   457  94 14  2  9  27  .555 -34.0  -2.1 -36.0
Dave Roberts      1974 SD  N   318  53 10  1  5  32  .497 -34.4  -0.1 -34.5
Ken Reitz         1975 STL N   592 159 25  1  5  22  .637 -31.8  -0.5 -32.3
Del Unser         1976 NYN-MON 496 113 19  4 12  29  .624 -29.5  -0.1 -29.6
Jerry Royster     1977 ATL N   445  96 10  2  6  38  .566 -31.8   0.3 -31.5
Dale Murphy       1978 ATL N   530 120 14  3 23  42  .679 -22.9  -2.9 -25.8
Warren Cromartie  1979 MON N   659 181 46  5  8  38  .709 -27.7  -2.0 -29.7
Omar Moreno       1980 PIT N   676 168 20 13  2  57  .631 -34.9   1.9 -33.0
Doug Flynn        1981 NY  N   325  72 12  4  1  11  .539 -20.1   0.0 -20.0
Paul Householder  1982 CIN N   417  88 11  5  9  30  .592 -34.3  -3.3 -37.6
Doug Flynn        1983 MON N   452 107 18  4  0  19  .561 -29.6  -0.2 -29.8
Ron Oester        1984 CIN N   553 134 26  3  3  41  .612 -24.7   1.0 -23.8
Terry Pendleton   1985 STL N   559 134 16  3  5  37  .591 -24.4  -1.1 -25.5
Rafael Ramirez    1986 ATL N   496 119 21  1  8  21  .608 -33.3   1.0 -32.4
Glenn Wilson      1987 PHI N   569 150 21  2 14  38  .689 -37.4  -2.3 -39.7
Chris James       1988 PHI N   566 137 24  1 19  31  .671 -31.0  -2.4 -33.4
Todd Benzinger    1989 CIN N   628 154 28  3 17  44  .674 -31.4  -3.5 -34.9
Eric Yelding      1990 HOU N   511 130  9  5  1  39  .602 -23.0  -1.9 -24.9
Andres Galarraga  1991 MON N   375  82 13  2  9  23  .604 -29.6  -1.6 -31.2
Jose Lind         1992 PIT N   468 110 14  1  0  26  .544 -26.4   0.1 -26.3
Eric Karros       1993 LA  N   619 153 27  2 23  34  .696 -35.6  -0.1 -35.7
James Mouton      1994 HOU N   310  76 11  0  2  27  .615 -27.0   3.1 -23.9
Jose Oliva        1995 ATL-SLN 183  26  5  0  7  12  .486 -25.0   0.0 -25.0
Charles Johnson   1996 FLA N   386  84 13  1 13  40  .649 -30.2   0.2 -30.0
Jose Guillen      1997 PIT N   498 133 20  5 14  17  .712 -27.9  -0.0 -27.9
Travis Lee        1998 ARI N   562 151 20  2 22  67  .775 -29.4   1.2 -28.2
Derek Bell        1999 HOU N   509 120 22  0 12  50  .656 -43.1   1.6 -41.5
Doug Glanville    2000 PHI N   637 175 27  6  8  31  .681 -39.6   1.0 -38.6
Alex Ochoa        2001 CIN-COL 536 148 30  7  8  45  .737 -29.5  -1.6 -31.1
Vinny Castilla    2002 ATL N   543 126 23  2 12  22  .616 -34.4   0.7 -33.7
Jose Hernandez    2003 3 Teams 519 117 18  3 13  46  .634 -37.9   0.2 -37.7
Richard Hidalgo   2004 HOU-NYN 523 125 26  3 25  44  .745 -29.8  -0.7 -30.5

No player trailed his league more than twice. Those doing it twice include: Bob Aspromonte, Paul Blair, Doug Flynn, Billy Ripken, Aurelio Rodriguez, Bill Virdon and Del Unser.

The second lowest run total in the 1970 National League belonged to Lee May. His line:

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS A/POS VASBR VATOR
Lee May           1970 CIN N   605 153 34  2 34  38  .782 -32.7  -0.2 -32.9

I thought it surprising that a player with 34 home runs (and 70 extra-base hits) could finish so low in these rankings. He was hurt by his low walk total, on-base percentage, and a .175 batting average (along with a .598 OPS) with runners in scoring position. So even before we got to the positional adjustment, Lee May was below average in Value Added Runs. But it was the fact that he played first-base that catapulted him down to the next-to-last spot in the overall rankings.

So here's the flip side of Denis Menke that year, how the regular first basemen in the NL hit in 1970:

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS  VABR   IPF A/BPF
Willie McCovey    1970 SF  N   495 143 39  2 39 137 1.056  66.1  .996  66.6
Wes Parker        1970 LA  N   614 196 47  4 10  79  .850  45.5  .935  54.4
Jim Hickman       1970 CHI N   514 162 33  4 32  93 1.001  58.5 1.137  42.9
Dick Allen        1970 STL N   459 128 17  5 34  71  .937  41.1 1.037  37.4
Orlando Cepeda    1970 ATL N   567 173 33  0 34  47  .908  33.8 1.056  28.1
Bob Robertson     1970 PIT N   390 112 19  4 27  51  .931  25.1  .973  27.3
Donn Clendenon    1970 NY  N   396 114 18  3 22  39  .863  26.2  .998  26.4
Ron Fairly        1970 MON N   385 111 19  0 15  72  .857  23.1 1.006  22.6
Nate Colbert      1970 SD  N   572 148 17  6 38  56  .836  12.7  .967  15.7
Deron Johnson     1970 PHI N   574 147 28  3 27  72  .794  10.7  .986  11.9
Bob Watson        1970 HOU N   327  89 19  2 11  24  .768   6.1  .962   8.0
Lee May           1970 CIN N   605 153 34  2 34  38  .782  -8.8 1.010  -9.5

It also surprised me that the 1970 Reds, a team that ran away with their division and won 102 games, would have the two worst offensive players in the league, relative to their position. Here are the regulars for the Reds that season:

Name              Year Team     AB   H 2B 3B HR  BB   OPS A/POS VASBR VATOR
Tony Perez        1970 CIN N   587 186 28  6 40  83  .990  41.4   2.3  43.6
Johnny Bench      1970 CIN N   605 177 35  4 45  54  .932  42.7  -0.4  42.3
Bobby Tolan       1970 CIN N   589 186 34  6 16  62  .860  19.9   5.9  25.8
Bernie Carbo      1970 CIN N   365 113 19  3 21  94 1.004  24.3   0.5  24.8
Pete Rose         1970 CIN N   649 205 37  9 15  73  .855   1.1   1.5   2.6
Woody Woodward    1970 CIN N   264  59  8  3  1  20  .568  -5.7  -0.1  -5.8
Dave Concepcion   1970 CIN N   265  69  6  3  1  23  .641  -8.6   0.8  -7.8
Lee May           1970 CIN N   605 153 34  2 34  38  .782 -32.7  -0.2 -32.9
Tommy Helms       1970 CIN N   575 136 21  1  1  21  .543 -34.8   0.1 -34.8

One thing I hadn't realized was that the 1970 Reds weren't a great offensive team, scoring only about 40 more runs than average. And it looks as though outstanding seasons from Perez and Bench, along with fine years from Tolan and Carbo, more than made up for May and Helms.

The top overall career marks:

Name                 AB    H  2B  3B  HR   BB   OPS  A/POS  VASBR  VATOR
Barry Bonds        9098 2730 563  77 703 2302 1.053  972.9   30.6 1003.5
Joe Morgan         9277 2517 449  96 268 1865 0.819  701.6   59.3  760.9
Rickey Henderson  10961 3055 510  66 297 2190 0.820  423.3  118.0  541.3
Mike Piazza        5805 1829 285   6 378  666 0.947  521.5   -2.6  518.9
Frank Thomas       6851 2113 444  11 436 1450 0.996  493.7   -0.2  493.5
Hank Aaron         8840 2634 419  52 576 1121 0.927  460.2   16.5  476.7 i
Alex Rodriguez     5590 1707 309  24 381  639 0.955  431.7   17.1  448.8
Reggie Jackson     9864 2584 463  49 563 1375 0.846  450.9   -5.9  445.0
Frank Robinson     7729 2263 416  51 452 1181 0.928  437.7    2.0  439.7 i
Ken Griffey        7379 2156 400  36 501  984 0.937  431.8    4.2  436.0
Willie Mays        6807 1992 319  61 410  959 0.918  420.5    7.4  427.9 i
Edgar Martinez     7213 2247 514  15 309 1283 0.933  427.4    0.0  427.4
George Brett      10349 3154 665 137 317 1096 0.857  414.1    5.8  419.9
Gary Sheffield     7302 2175 386  24 415 1202 0.928  413.4    5.1  418.4
Mike Schmidt       8352 2234 408  59 548 1507 0.908  411.7   -0.3  411.5
Rod Carew          9315 3053 445 112  92 1018 0.822  396.1   15.3  411.4
Barry Larkin       7937 2340 441  76 198  939 0.815  363.1   36.5  399.6
Robin Yount       11008 3142 583 126 251  966 0.772  384.1   10.8  394.9
Wade Boggs         9180 3010 578  61 118 1412 0.858  397.2   -6.9  390.3
Mark McGwire       6187 1626 252   6 583 1317 0.982  383.6   -0.1  383.5
Craig Biggio       9221 2639 564  51 234 1060 0.807  356.0   23.9  379.9
Jeff Bagwell       7697 2289 484  32 446 1383 0.951  375.1    2.8  377.9
Lou Whitaker       8570 2369 420  65 244 1197 0.789  358.5    7.9  366.4
Mickey Mantle      3624 1023 136  18 256  841 0.957  352.7    3.2  355.8 i
Cal Ripken        11551 3184 603  44 431 1129 0.788  360.5   -5.5  355.0
 
i - incomplete

Barry Bonds is head and shoulders above everyone, while Joe Morgan is head and shoulders above everyone not named Barry Bonds. The difference between Bonds and Rickey Henderson is about the same as the difference between Henderson and Pete Ward. Of course, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle will move up once we have the 1950s included.

The worst career marks:

Name                 AB    H  2B  3B  HR   BB   OPS  A/POS  VASBR  VATOR
Aur. Rodriguez     6611 1570 287  46 124  324 0.626 -257.7   -6.4 -264.1
Ken Reitz          4777 1243 243  12  68  184 0.649 -197.4   -6.6 -204.0
Bill Buckner       9397 2715 498  49 174  450 0.729 -191.1    2.9 -188.2
Doug Flynn         3853  918 115  39   7  151 0.560 -179.4   -4.1 -183.5
Hal Lanier         3703  843 111  20   8  136 0.529 -182.1   -1.0 -183.1
Neifi Perez        4190 1129 188  59  52  201 0.681 -170.1   -9.9 -179.9
Rey Sanchez        4807 1305 192  32  15  227 0.642 -174.5   -5.3 -179.8
Ed Brinkman        6045 1355 201  38  60  444 0.580 -162.7  -11.3 -174.0
Omar Moreno        4992 1257 171  87  37  387 0.649 -182.3    9.2 -173.1
Royce Clayton      6208 1598 291  50 105  483 0.684 -158.1   -3.8 -161.9
Ozzie Guillen      6686 1764 275  69  28  239 0.626 -142.6  -13.0 -155.6
Alfredo Griffin    6780 1688 245  78  24  338 0.604 -139.0  -15.7 -154.7
Jesus Alou         4345 1216 170  26  32  138 0.658 -142.8   -9.5 -152.3
Kevin Young        3897 1007 235  17 144  336 0.762 -145.3   -5.5 -150.8
Doug Glanville     3964 1100 166  32  59  208 0.695 -163.4   13.7 -149.7
Ed Kranepool       5436 1418 225  25 118  454 0.693 -143.9   -4.5 -148.4
Rick Manning       5248 1349 189  43  56  471 0.658 -153.9    8.1 -145.9
Vince Coleman      5406 1425 176  89  28  477 0.668 -218.1   75.3 -142.8
Bob Aspromonte     4368 1103 135  26  60  333 0.644 -131.8   -6.3 -138.1 i
Bill Virdon        3182  827 120  41  39  228 0.668 -128.5   -7.4 -135.9 i
Tom Goodwin        3846 1029 125  39  24  365 0.671 -149.7   14.0 -135.7
Rey Ordonez        3115  767 129  17  12  191 0.600 -129.3   -5.9 -135.2
Jerry Morales      4528 1173 199  36  95  366 0.695 -118.3  -15.1 -133.3
Tony Pena          6489 1687 298  27 107  455 0.673 -119.4  -12.6 -132.0
Brian Hunter       3347  882 146  28  25  243 0.660 -150.2   18.8 -131.4
 
i - incomplete

Seasonal and career Value Added batting data for all players from 1960 to 2004 is here.

Value Added Pitching Runs

I was initially reluctant to apply the Value Added method to pitching since it seemed that (at least for starting pitchers) it would primarily reflect the number of runs (both earned and unearned) allowed above or below league average. Since we have easier ways of getting this, I wasn't going to pursue it. I finally decided that it might be interesting. For starting pitchers, it would remove the relief pitcher from the equation. The book would be closed on a pitcher as soon as he left a game; he is charged the number of expected runs a team might score from the situation he's leaving. And for a relief pitcher, it does provide some insight into how he deals with inherited runners. For example, given the following chart of expected runs:

    MenOn     Number of Outs
     FST       0      1      2
     ---    .462   .250   .092
     x--    .803   .493   .216
     -x-   1.053   .652   .315
     xx-   1.405   .814   .412
     --x   1.308   .861   .341
     x-x   1.552  1.071   .497
     -xx   1.935  1.351   .603
     xxx   2.188  1.445   .741

A pitcher who started an inning and left with no outs and the bases loaded would be charged with 1.726 ( 2.188 - .462 ) runs. A relief pitcher who came into the game at this point and struck out the next two hitters would have a value of -1.447 ( .741 - 2.188 ), while a subsequent pitcher who gave up a grand-slam home run before retiring the side would be charged with 3.259 ( 4.000 - .741 ) runs.

I decided to be consistent with my approach for batting and stolen base runs and give the pitcher credit (or blame) for anything that happened while he was on the mound - including errors committed by his defense. One thing that troubled me about this decision is that while a hitter bats against a representative sampling of all the fielders in the league, a pitcher is stuck with his defense the entire season. So if a batter reaches base via error more often than another player, he's probably hitting into more difficult chances; if a pitcher gives up more errors than another, he might simply have a lousy defense. On the other hand, we usually see as much variation in unearned runs among pitchers on the same team as we do among pitchers on different teams. It's my feeling that the number of errors a pitcher yields is primarily a product of the type of pitcher he is, not the kind of fielders he has behind him. A bad defense is more likely to turn outs into hits than it is to turn outs into errors. You often hear people assert that a great fielder will get to 50 or 60 more balls than a bad fielder - you never see this kind of spread in their errors. As a matter of fact, fielders with great range often commit more errors than those with poor range.

I decided to handle the missing games by taking the difference between the runs allowed by the pitcher and the average number of runs a pitcher in the league would average over the number of innings pitched.

Using these methods, a bad pitcher will accumulate a high number of pitching runs and a good one will end up with a negative total. I followed the lead of the traditional pitching runs and inverted the number, converting it from pitching runs to runs prevented, so that a high number would be better than a low one.

Here are the top seasons in Value Added Runs Prevented from 1960 to 2004:

Name              Year Team      G  GS  IP     H   R  ER  BB   K  VARP
Pedro Martinez    2000 BOS A    29  29 217   128  44  42  32 284  86.2
Roger Clemens     1997 TOR A    34  34 264   204  65  60  68 292  80.9
Dwight Gooden     1985 NY  N    35  35 276.2 198  51  47  69 268  74.8
Sandy Koufax      1966 LA  N    41  41 323   241  74  62  77 317  73.8
Dean Chance       1964 LA  A    46  35 278.1 194  56  51  86 207  70.1
Greg Maddux       1995 ATL N    28  28 209.2 147  39  38  23 181  69.1
Pedro Martinez    1999 BOS A    31  29 213.1 160  56  49  37 313  69.1
Jim Palmer        1975 BAL A    39  38 323   253  87  75  80 193  65.9
Bob Gibson        1968 STL N    34  34 304.2 198  49  38  62 268  65.5
Ron Guidry        1978 NY  A    35  35 273.2 187  61  53  72 248  65.3
Randy Johnson     1999 ARI N    35  35 271.2 207  86  75  70 364  64.8
Sandy Koufax      1963 LA  N    40  40 311   214  68  65  58 306  63.6
Steve Carlton     1972 PHI N    41  41 346.1 257  84  76  87 310  63.6
Greg Maddux       1997 ATL N    33  33 232.2 200  58  57  20 177  63.3
Kevin Brown       1996 FLA N    32  32 233   187  60  49  33 159  61.8
Vida Blue         1971 OAK A    39  39 312   209  73  63  88 301  61.5
Sandy Koufax      1965 LA  N    43  41 335.2 216  90  76  71 382  61.0
Tom Seaver        1971 NY  N    36  35 286.1 210  61  56  61 289  60.7
Greg Maddux       1994 ATL N    25  25 202   150  44  35  31 156  60.7
Johan Santana     2004 MIN A    34  34 228   156  70  66  54 265  60.6
Tom Seaver        1973 NY  N    36  36 290   219  74  67  64 251  58.6
Randy Johnson     2001 ARI N    35  34 249.2 181  74  69  71 372  58.6
Pedro Martinez    1997 MON N    31  31 241.1 158  65  51  67 305  58.4
Randy Johnson     1995 SEA A    30  30 214.1 159  65  59  65 294  57.8
Jim Palmer        1973 BAL A    38  37 296.1 225  86  79 113 158  57.1
 
Where:  G - games pitched   GS - games started   IP - innings pitched
        H - hits allowed     R - runs allowed    ER - earned runs allowed
       BB - walks            K - strikeout
       VARP - value added runs prevented

And the worst:

Name              Year Team      G  GS  IP     H   R  ER  BB   K  VARP
Steve Blass       1973 PIT N    23  18  88.2 109  98  97  84  27 -54.1
Pedro Astacio     1998 COL N    35  34 209.1 245 160 145  74 170 -49.6
Jeff Fassero      1999 SEA-TEX  37  27 156.1 208 135 125  83 114 -47.5
Mike Hampton      2002 COL N    30  30 178.2 228 135 122  91  74 -46.4
Lloyd Allen       1973 CAL-TEX  28   5  49.2  73  69  52  44  29 -44.9
Andy Larkin       1998 FLA N    17  14  74.2 101  87  80  55  43 -43.8
Joe Coleman       1975 DET A    31  31 201   234 137 124  85 125 -42.7
Todd Van Poppel   1996 OAK-DET  37  15  99.1 139 107 100  62  53 -42.7
Jack Lamabe       1964 BOS A    39  25 177.1 235 123 116  57 109 -42.4
Roy Halladay      2000 TOR A    19  13  67.2 107  87  80  42  44 -42.4
Darryl Kile       1999 COL N    32  32 190.2 225 150 140 109 116 -41.5
Jim Abbott        1996 CAL A    27  23 142   171 128 118  78  58 -41.2
Mike Moore        1995 DET A    25  25 132.2 179 118 111  68  64 -41.1
Ross Grimsley     1980 MON-CLE  25  18 116   164  94  85  36  29 -40.7
Ken Schrom        1987 CLE A    32  29 153.2 185 126 111  57  61 -40.4
Jaime Navarro     1998 CHI A    37  27 172.2 223 135 122  77  71 -40.0
Jose Lima         2000 HOU N    33  33 196.1 251 152 145  68 124 -39.3
Terry Mulholland  1995 SF  N    29  24 149   190 112  96  38  65 -39.2
Steve Sparks      2002 DET A    32  30 189   238 134 116  67  98 -39.1
Ron Bryant        1974 SF  N    41  23 126.2 142  92  79  68  75 -38.9
Brian Bohanon     1999 COL N    33  33 197.1 236 146 136  92 120 -38.9
Jim O'Toole       1965 CIN N    29  22 127.2 154  98  84  47  71 -38.7
Byron McLaughlin  1980 SEA A    45   4  90.2 124  74  69  50  41 -38.5
Willie Fraser     1988 CAL A    34  32 194.2 203 129 117  80  86 -38.3
Dick Pole         1978 SEA A    21  18  98.2 122  82  71  41  41 -38.2

Notice that these lists, much like the batting ones earlier, are well represented by recent years. When a lot of runs are scored, pitchers have more of an opportunity to allow both far fewer and far more runs than average.

Fortunately, there's only one adjustment to make to this and that is for the park factor. I use the same approach as I did for batting runs: compute an individual park factor for each pitcher by weighting each of the plate appearances against him by the park factor where it took place. After this adjustment, here are the top seasons:

Name              Year Team      G  GS  IP     H   R  ER  BB   K  VARP   IPF A/BPF
Pedro Martinez    2000 BOS A    29  29 217   128  44  42  32 284  86.2 1.022  86.7
Roger Clemens     1997 TOR A    34  34 264   204  65  60  68 292  80.9  .992  80.5
Dwight Gooden     1985 NY  N    35  35 276.2 198  51  47  69 268  74.8  .981  73.9
Pedro Martinez    1999 BOS A    31  29 213.1 160  56  49  37 313  69.1 1.039  70.9
Greg Maddux       1995 ATL N    28  28 209.2 147  39  38  23 181  69.1 1.018  69.6
Sandy Koufax      1966 LA  N    41  41 323   241  74  62  77 317  73.8  .895  65.7
Dean Chance       1964 LA  A    46  35 278.1 194  56  51  86 207  70.1  .900  64.8
Steve Carlton     1972 PHI N    41  41 346.1 257  84  76  87 310  63.6 1.015  64.8
Randy Johnson     2001 ARI N    35  34 249.2 181  74  69  71 372  58.6 1.093  64.4
Randy Johnson     1999 ARI N    35  35 271.2 207  86  75  70 364  64.8  .990  64.0
Bob Gibson        1968 STL N    34  34 304.2 198  49  38  62 268  65.5  .951  63.2
Ron Guidry        1978 NY  A    35  35 273.2 187  61  53  72 248  65.3  .961  63.0
Greg Maddux       1997 ATL N    33  33 232.2 200  58  57  20 177  63.3  .982  62.4
Johan Santana     2004 MIN A    34  34 228   156  70  66  54 265  60.6 1.029  62.2
Greg Maddux       1994 ATL N    25  25 202   150  44  35  31 156  60.7 1.011  61.1
Sandy Koufax      1963 LA  N    40  40 311   214  68  65  58 306  63.6  .945  59.9
Vida Blue         1971 OAK A    39  39 312   209  73  63  88 301  61.5  .976  59.9
Tom Seaver        1971 NY  N    36  35 286.1 210  61  56  61 289  60.7  .970  59.0
Kevin Brown       1996 FLA N    32  32 233   187  60  49  33 159  61.8  .948  59.0
Randy Johnson     1995 SEA A    30  30 214.1 159  65  59  65 294  57.8 1.021  59.0
Jim Palmer        1975 BAL A    39  38 323   253  87  75  80 193  65.9  .920  58.8
Pedro Martinez    1997 MON N    31  31 241.1 158  65  51  67 305  58.4 1.001  58.5
Randy Johnson     2002 ARI N    35  35 260   197  78  67  71 334  52.2 1.096  58.4
Gaylord Perry     1972 CLE A    41  40 342.2 253  79  73  82 234  54.2 1.053  57.9
Jim Palmer        1973 BAL A    38  37 296.1 225  86  79 113 158  57.1 1.009  57.8
 
Where:  IPF - individual park factor
        A/BPF - value added pitching runs adjusted for ballpark factor

And the worst:

Name              Year Team      G  GS  IP     H   R  ER  BB   K  VARP   IPF A/BPF
Steve Blass       1973 PIT N    23  18  88.2 109  98  97  84  27 -54.1  .979 -56.4
Bobby Jones       2001 SD  N    33  33 195   250 137 111  38 113 -35.6  .906 -50.8
Lloyd Allen       1973 CAL-TEX  28   5  49.2  73  69  52  44  29 -44.9  .969 -47.4
Andy Larkin       1998 FLA N    17  14  74.2 101  87  80  55  43 -43.8  .982 -45.5
Vida Blue         1979 SF  N    34  34 237   246 143 132 111 138 -29.9  .913 -44.1
Steve Sparks      2002 DET A    32  30 189   238 134 116  67  98 -39.1  .971 -43.6
Jason Bere        1995 CHI A    27  27 137.2 151 120 110 106 110 -37.2  .957 -43.0
Clay Kirby        1973 SD  N    34  31 191.2 214 122 102  66 129 -33.2  .935 -42.2
Willie Fraser     1988 CAL A    34  32 194.2 203 129 117  80  86 -38.3  .974 -42.0
Todd Van Poppel   1996 OAK-DET  37  15  99.1 139 107 100  62  53 -42.7 1.010 -41.6
Jim Abbott        1996 CAL A    27  23 142   171 128 118  78  58 -41.2  .998 -41.4
Matt Keough       1982 OAK A    34  34 209.1 233 144 133 101  75 -35.5  .963 -41.2
Jaime Navarro     1997 CHI A    33  33 209.2 267 155 135  73 142 -36.3  .972 -41.0
Jaime Navarro     1998 CHI A    37  27 172.2 223 135 122  77  71 -40.0  .997 -40.5
Ross Grimsley     1980 MON-CLE  25  18 116   164  94  85  36  29 -40.7 1.002 -40.4
Roy Halladay      2000 TOR A    19  13  67.2 107  87  80  42  44 -42.4 1.026 -40.0
Jeremy Bonderman  2003 DET A    33  28 162   193 118 100  58 108 -31.5  .939 -39.9
Terry Mulholland  1995 SF  N    29  24 149   190 112  96  38  65 -39.2  .997 -39.6
Livan Hernandez   2001 SF  N    34  34 226.2 266 143 132  85 138 -23.5  .905 -39.0
Craig Minetto     1979 OAK A    36  13 118.1 131  85  73  58  64 -31.0  .929 -38.6
Jeff Fassero      1999 SEA-TEX  37  27 156.1 208 135 125  83 114 -47.5 1.063 -38.5
Ruben Quevedo     2000 CHI N    21  15  88    96  81  73  54  65 -32.5  .941 -37.9
Ross Grimsley     1979 MON N    32  27 151.1 199 102  90  41  42 -35.8  .983 -37.7
Mike Moore        1995 DET A    25  25 132.2 179 118 111  68  64 -41.1 1.029 -37.6
Mark Leiter       1997 PHI N    31  31 182.2 216 132 115  64 148 -36.3  .992 -37.4
Jack Fisher       1962 BAL A    32  25 152   173 101  86  56  81 -25.9  .903 -37.4

The leaders in park adjusted runs prevented each year:

Name              Year Team      G  GS  IP     H   R  ER  BB   K A/BPF
Frank Baumann     1960 CHI A    47  20 185.1 169  67  55  53  71  28.4  .997  28.2
Jack Kralick      1961 MIN A    33  33 242   257 101  97  64 137  25.7 1.088  33.5
Hank Aguirre      1962 DET A    42  22 216   162  67  53  65 156  38.7 1.034  40.8
Gary Peters       1963 CHI A    41  30 243   192  69  63  68 189  43.5  .977  42.0
Dean Chance       1964 LA  A    46  35 278.1 194  56  51  86 207  70.1  .900  64.8
Sam McDowell      1965 CLE A    42  35 273   178  80  66 132 325  44.1 1.010  44.8
Gary Peters       1966 CHI A    30  27 204.2 156  54  45  45 129  34.5  .929  30.6
Joe Horlen        1967 CHI A    35  35 258   188  66  59  58 103  41.4  .939  37.5
Luis Tiant        1968 CLE A    34  32 258.1 152  53  46  73 264  45.5  .995  45.3
Denny McLain      1969 DET A    42  41 325   288 105 101  67 181  47.0 1.041  50.8
Sam McDowell      1970 CLE A    39  39 305   236 108  99 131 304  38.6 1.079  46.1
Vida Blue         1971 OAK A    39  39 312   209  73  63  88 301  61.5  .976  59.9
Gaylord Perry     1972 CLE A    41  40 342.2 253  79  73  82 234  54.2 1.053  57.9
Jim Palmer        1973 BAL A    38  37 296.1 225  86  79 113 158  57.1 1.009  57.8
Gaylord Perry     1974 CLE A    37  37 322.1 230  98  90  99 216  49.2 1.005  49.7
Jim Palmer        1975 BAL A    39  38 323   253  87  75  80 193  65.9  .920  58.8
Vida Blue         1976 OAK A    37  37 298.1 268  90  78  63 166  46.6  .943  41.6
Jim Palmer        1977 BAL A    39  39 319   263 106 103  99 193  55.9  .934  48.7
Ron Guidry        1978 NY  A    35  35 273.2 187  61  53  72 248  65.3  .961  63.0
Dennis Eckersley  1979 BOS A    33  33 246.2 234  89  82  59 150  39.6 1.076  45.9
Mike Norris       1980 OAK A    33  33 284.1 215  88  80  83 180  53.3  .936  47.6
Steve McCatty     1981 OAK A    22  22 185.2 140  50  48  61  91  35.0  .938  31.9
Dave Stieb        1982 TOR A    38  38 288.1 271 116 104  75 141  29.0 1.081  37.6
Dave Stieb        1983 TOR A    36  36 278   223 105  94  93 187  36.0 1.077  43.2
Dave Stieb        1984 TOR A    35  35 267   215  87  84  88 198  45.2 1.031  47.7
Dave Stieb        1985 TOR A    36  36 265   206  89  73  96 167  48.0 1.026  50.1
Roger Clemens     1986 BOS A    33  33 254   179  77  70  67 238  55.2 1.009  55.8
Roger Clemens     1987 BOS A    36  36 281.2 248 100  93  83 256  53.4 1.020  55.3
Frank Viola       1988 MIN A    35  35 255.1 236  80  75  54 193  41.4 1.036  44.1
Bret Saberhagen   1989 KC  A    36  35 262.1 209  74  63  43 193  52.0  .979  50.6
Roger Clemens     1990 BOS A    31  31 228.1 193  59  49  54 209  54.1 1.043  56.3
Roger Clemens     1991 BOS A    35  35 271.1 219  93  79  65 241  41.7 1.048  45.8
Mike Mussina      1992 BAL A    32  32 241   212  70  68  48 130  44.2 1.010  44.8
Kevin Appier      1993 KC  A    34  34 238.2 183  74  68  81 186  53.3 1.051  56.4
David Cone        1994 KC  A    23  23 171.2 130  60  56  54 132  42.3 1.049  44.8
Randy Johnson     1995 SEA A    30  30 214.1 159  65  59  65 294  57.8 1.021  59.0
Pat Hentgen       1996 TOR A    35  35 265.2 238 105  95  94 177  53.6  .995  53.1
Roger Clemens     1997 TOR A    34  34 264   204  65  60  68 292  80.9  .992  80.5
Roger Clemens     1998 TOR A    33  33 234.2 169  78  69  88 271  52.4 1.001  52.5
Pedro Martinez    1999 BOS A    31  29 213.1 160  56  49  37 313  69.1 1.039  70.9
Pedro Martinez    2000 BOS A    29  29 217   128  44  42  32 284  86.2 1.022  86.7
Joe Mays          2001 MIN A    34  34 233.2 205  87  82  64 123  39.9 1.038  43.0
Derek Lowe        2002 BOS A    32  32 219.2 166  65  63  48 127  55.0 1.010  55.6
Pedro Martinez    2003 BOS A    29  29 186.2 147  52  46  47 206  51.3 1.031  52.7
Johan Santana     2004 MIN A    34  34 228   156  70  66  54 265  60.6 1.029  62.2
Name              Year Team      G  GS  IP     H   R  ER  BB   K A/BPF
Don Drysdale      1960 LA  N    41  36 269   214  93  85  72 246  39.0 1.085  45.6
Stu Miller        1961 SF  N    63   0 122    95  41  36  37  89  34.1  .978  33.5
Bob Gibson        1962 STL N    32  30 233.2 174  84  74  95 208  34.3 1.085  40.9
Sandy Koufax      1963 LA  N    40  40 311   214  68  65  58 306  63.6  .945  59.9
Don Drysdale      1964 LA  N    40  40 321.1 242  91  78  68 237  55.2  .913  47.1
Juan Marichal     1965 SF  N    39  37 295.1 224  78  70  46 240  52.9 1.055  56.9
Sandy Koufax      1966 LA  N    41  41 323   241  74  62  77 317  73.8  .895  65.7
Jim Bunning       1967 PHI N    40  40 302.1 241  94  77  73 253  32.3 1.017  33.9
Bob Gibson        1968 STL N    34  34 304.2 198  49  38  62 268  65.5  .951  63.2
Bob Gibson        1969 STL N    35  35 314   251  84  76  95 269  55.4  .991  54.7
Fergie Jenkins    1970 CHI N    40  39 313   265 128 118  60 274  30.2 1.112  42.3
Tom Seaver        1971 NY  N    36  35 286.1 210  61  56  61 289  60.7  .970  59.0
Steve Carlton     1972 PHI N    41  41 346.1 257  84  76  87 310  63.6 1.015  64.8
Tom Seaver        1973 NY  N    36  36 290   219  74  67  64 251  58.6  .987  57.7
Phil Niekro       1974 ATL N    41  39 302.1 249  91  80  88 195  43.5 1.022  45.5
Andy Messersmith  1975 LA  N    42  40 321.2 244  92  82  96 213  55.1  .936  49.3
Doug Rau          1976 LA  N    34  32 231   221  71  66  69  98  28.9  .961  25.9
Rick Reuschel     1977 CHI N    39  37 252   233  84  78  74 166  42.3 1.113  50.4
Phil Niekro       1978 ATL N    44  42 334.1 295 129 107 102 248  22.6 1.136  38.5
J.R. Richard      1979 HOU N    38  38 292.1 220  98  88  98 313  39.2  .901  28.5
Steve Carlton     1980 PHI N    38  38 304   243  87  79  90 286  47.7 1.071  53.5
F. Valenzuela     1981 LA  N    25  25 192.1 140  55  53  61 180  31.2  .944  28.2
Steve Rogers      1982 MON N    35  35 277   245  84  74  65 179  39.1 1.025  41.2
Mario Soto        1983 CIN N    34  34 273.2 207  96  82  95 242  28.8 1.048  33.1
Bruce Sutter      1984 STL N    71   0 122.2 109  26  21  23  77  30.3  .992  30.2
Dwight Gooden     1985 NY  N    35  35 276.2 198  51  47  69 268  74.8  .981  73.9
Mike Scott        1986 HOU N    37  37 275.1 182  73  68  72 306  54.8  .981  53.5
Bob Welch         1987 LA  N    35  35 251.2 204  94  90  86 196  34.4  .957  30.3
Orel Hershiser    1988 LA  N    35  34 267   208  73  67  73 178  41.6  .998  41.5
Orel Hershiser    1989 LA  N    35  33 256.2 226  75  66  77 178  38.2  .972  36.1
Frank Viola       1990 NY  N    35  35 249.2 227  83  74  60 182  37.9  .996  37.6
Tom Glavine       1991 ATL N    34  34 246.2 201  83  70  69 192  28.2 1.072  33.8
Greg Maddux       1992 CHI N    35  35 268   201  68  65  70 199  46.3 1.014  47.2
Jose Rijo         1993 CIN N    36  36 257.1 218  76  71  62 227  51.6 1.014  52.6
Greg Maddux       1994 ATL N    25  25 202   150  44  35  31 156  60.7 1.011  61.1
Greg Maddux       1995 ATL N    28  28 209.2 147  39  38  23 181  69.1 1.018  69.6
Kevin Brown       1996 FLA N    32  32 233   187  60  49  33 159  61.8  .948  59.0
Greg Maddux       1997 ATL N    33  33 232.2 200  58  57  20 177  63.3  .982  62.4
Greg Maddux       1998 ATL N    34  34 251   201  75  62  45 204  52.8  .993  52.4
Randy Johnson     1999 ARI N    35  35 271.2 207  86  75  70 364  64.8  .990  64.0
Randy Johnson     2000 ARI N    35  35 248.2 202  89  73  76 347  52.3 1.024  54.1
Randy Johnson     2001 ARI N    35  34 249.2 181  74  69  71 372  58.6 1.093  64.4
Randy Johnson     2002 ARI N    35  35 260   197  78  67  71 334  52.2 1.096  58.4
Jason Schmidt     2003 SF  N    29  29 207.2 152  56  54  46 208  50.6 1.003  50.8
Randy Johnson     2004 ARI N    35  35 245.2 177  88  71  44 290  39.8 1.076  45.4

The pitchers leading their leagues more than three times include Roger Clemens (6), Randy Johnson (6), Greg Maddux (5) and Dave Stieb (4).

And the league trailers:

Name              Year Team      G  GS  IP     H   R  ER  BB   K A/BPF
Johnny Kucks      1960 KC  A    31  17 114   140  85  76  43  38 -29.9  .992 -30.6
J. Klippstein     1961 WAS A    42   1  71.2  83  59  54  43  41 -33.6  .988 -34.5
Jack Fisher       1962 BAL A    32  25 152   173 101  86  56  81 -25.9  .903 -37.4
Jim Duckworth     1963 WAS A    37  15 120.2 131  89  81  67  66 -27.6 1.020 -25.7
Ken McBride       1964 LA  A    29  21 116.1 104  77  68  75  66 -24.0  .872 -36.2
Phil Ortega       1965 WAS A    35  29 179.2 176 107 102  97  88 -26.1  .993 -26.9
Mickey Lolich     1966 DET A    40  33 203.2 204 119 108  83 173 -23.8 1.028 -20.5
Blue Moon Odom    1967 KC  A    29  17 103.2  94  67  58  68  67 -25.3  .997 -25.5
Frank Bertaina    1968 WAS A    27  23 127.1 133  76  66  69  81 -26.8  .968 -29.5
Marty Pattin      1969 SEA A    34  27 158.2 166 104  99  71 126 -34.2 1.003 -33.9
Lew Krausse       1970 MIL A    37  35 216   235 130 114  67 130 -29.1 1.006 -28.3
Denny McLain      1971 WAS A    33  32 216.2 233 115 103  72 103 -20.7  .933 -29.2
Ken Brett         1972 MIL A    26  22 133   121  76  67  49  74 -23.9  .962 -27.0
Lloyd Allen       1973 CAL-TEX  28   5  49.2  73  69  52  44  29 -44.9  .969 -47.4
Jim Bibby         1974 TEX A    41  41 264   255 146 139 113 149 -25.5  .970 -30.1
Joe Coleman       1975 DET A    31  31 201   234 137 124  85 125 -42.7 1.042 -36.6
Jim Hughes        1976 MIN A    37  26 177   190 113  98  73  87 -30.9 1.005 -30.3
Wayne Simpson     1977 CAL A    27  23 122   154  90  79  62  55 -25.3  .944 -31.0
Dick Pole         1978 SEA A    21  18  98.2 122  82  71  41  41 -38.2 1.034 -35.2
Craig Minetto     1979 OAK A    36  13 118.1 131  85  73  58  64 -31.0  .929 -38.6
Byron McLaughlin  1980 SEA A    45   4  90.2 124  74  69  50  41 -38.5 1.023 -36.4
Juan Berenguer    1981 KCA-TOR  20  14  90.2  84  62  53  51  49 -22.9 1.071 -18.4
Matt Keough       1982 OAK A    34  34 209.1 233 144 133 101  75 -35.5  .963 -41.2
Frank Viola       1983 MIN A    35  34 210   242 141 128  92 127 -36.4 1.058 -28.2
Lary Sorensen     1984 OAK A    46  21 183.1 240 117 100  44  63 -21.1  .919 -31.5
Curt Wardle       1985 MIN-CLE  50  12 115   127  83  79  62  84 -29.0 1.012 -27.9
Jose Rijo         1986 OAK A    39  26 193.2 172 116 100 108 176 -20.1  .939 -28.5
Ken Schrom        1987 CLE A    32  29 153.2 185 126 111  57  61 -40.4 1.042 -35.0
Willie Fraser     1988 CAL A    34  32 194.2 203 129 117  80  86 -38.3  .974 -42.0
Don August        1989 MIL A    31  25 142.1 175  93  84  58  51 -25.0  .987 -26.3
Mike Moore        1990 OAK A    33  33 199.1 204 113 103  84  73 -15.4  .913 -26.4
Dave Johnson      1991 BAL A    22  14  84   127  68  66  24  38 -33.0  .970 -35.5
Les Lancaster     1992 DET A    41   1  86.2 101  66  61  51  35 -32.5 1.013 -31.5
Jack Morris       1993 TOR A    27  27 152.2 189 116 105  65 103 -33.4 1.028 -30.1
Terry Mulholland  1994 NY  A    24  19 120.2 150  94  87  37  72 -25.5  .988 -26.7
Jason Bere        1995 CHI A    27  27 137.2 151 120 110 106 110 -37.2  .957 -43.0
Todd Van Poppel   1996 OAK-DET  37  15  99.1 139 107 100  62  53 -42.7 1.010 -41.6
Jaime Navarro     1997 CHI A    33  33 209.2 267 155 135  73 142 -36.3  .972 -41.0
Jaime Navarro     1998 CHI A    37  27 172.2 223 135 122  77  71 -40.0  .997 -40.5
Jeff Fassero      1999 SEA-TEX  37  27 156.1 208 135 125  83 114 -47.5 1.063 -38.5
Roy Halladay      2000 TOR A    19  13  67.2 107  87  80  42  44 -42.4 1.026 -40.0
Ryan Rupe         2001 TB  A    28  26 143.1 161 111 105  48 123 -30.6  .973 -33.7
Steve Sparks      2002 DET A    32  30 189   238 134 116  67  98 -39.1  .971 -43.6
Jeremy Bonderman  2003 DET A    33  28 162   193 118 100  58 108 -31.5  .939 -39.9
Brian Anderson    2004 KC  A    35  26 166   217 123 104  53  70 -30.7 1.009 -29.5
Name              Year Team      G  GS  IP     H   R  ER  BB   K A/BPF
Dick Drott        1960 CHI N    23   9  55.1  63  49  44  42  32 -24.2  .990 -24.8
Chris Short       1961 PHI N    39  16 127.1 157  94  84  71  80 -35.9 1.013 -34.5
Craig Anderson    1962 NY  N    50  14 131.1 150 108  78  63  62 -34.2 1.052 -28.7
Jay Hook          1963 NY  N    41  20 152.2 168 104  93  53  89 -37.2 1.051 -32.0
Warren Spahn      1964 MIL N    38  25 173.2 204 110 102  52  78 -31.0  .990 -32.2
Don Nottebart     1965 HOU N    29  25 158   166  99  82  55  77 -23.6  .937 -30.4
Ray Sadecki       1966 SLN-SFN  31  22 129.1 141  91  69  48  83 -34.0 1.052 -29.2
Bo Belinsky       1967 HOU N    27  18 115.1 112  74  60  54  80 -29.0  .963 -32.2
Claude Osteen     1968 LA  N    39  36 253.2 267 109  87  54 119 -14.0  .905 -26.2
Tony Cloninger    1969 CIN N    35  34 189.2 184 123 106 103 103 -34.1 1.041 -28.9
Frank Reberger    1970 SF  N    45  18 152   178 108  94  98 117 -33.9  .999 -34.0
Carl Morton       1971 MON N    36  35 213.2 252 129 114  83  84 -35.5 1.007 -34.6
Bill Greif        1972 SD  N    34  22 125.1 143  86  78  47  91 -29.0  .942 -34.6
Steve Blass       1973 PIT N    23  18  88.2 109  98  97  84  27 -54.1  .979 -56.4
Bill Greif        1974 SD  N    43  35 226   244 126 117  95 137 -24.9  .950 -32.2
Dan Spillner      1975 SD  N    37  25 166.2 194  93  79  63 104 -18.9  .944 -25.0
Mike Cosgrove     1976 HOU N    22  16  89.2 106  63  55  58  34 -22.6  .946 -26.5
Rick Sawyer       1977 SD  N    56   9 111   136  77  72  55  45 -26.1  .932 -32.6
Dave Tomlin       1978 CIN N    57   0  62.1  88  54  40  30  32 -31.3 1.022 -29.9
Vida Blue         1979 SF  N    34  34 237   246 143 132 111 138 -29.9  .913 -44.1
Randy Lerch       1980 PHI N    30  22 150   178  98  86  55  57 -30.3 1.042 -26.1
Randy Jones       1981 NY  N    13  12  59.1  65  48  32  38  14 -25.2  .985 -26.0
Mike Scott        1982 NY  N    37  22 147   185 100  84  60  63 -26.3 1.002 -26.1
Mike LaCoss       1983 HOU N    38  17 138   142  81  68  56  53 -20.0  .931 -26.4
Mark Davis        1984 SF  N    46  27 174.2 201 113 104  54 124 -34.7  .995 -35.4
Bill Laskey       1985 SFN-MON  30  26 148.1 165  91  81  53  60 -22.6  .946 -28.1
Steve Carlton     1986 PHI-SFN  22  22 113   138  90  74  61  80 -35.0 1.011 -34.0
Bob Knepper       1987 HOU N    33  31 177.2 226 118 104  54  76 -28.5  .943 -36.1
Bruce Ruffin      1988 PHI N    55  15 144.1 151  86  71  80  82 -26.2 1.032 -23.2
Jeff Robinson     1989 PIT N    50  19 141.1 161  92  72  59  95 -31.5  .968 -34.9
Bruce Ruffin      1990 PHI N    32  25 149   178  99  89  62  79 -32.2 1.007 -31.4
Juan Agosto       1991 STL N    72   0  86    92  52  46  39  34 -22.3  .982 -23.5
Ryan Bowen        1992 HOU N    11   9  33.2  48  43  41  30  22 -27.9  .916 -32.3
Pete Schourek     1993 NY  N    41  18 128.1 168  90  85  45  72 -24.3  .976 -26.6
Brian Williams    1994 HOU N    20  13  78.1 112  64  50  41  49 -26.4  .946 -30.7
Terry Mulholland  1995 SF  N    29  24 149   190 112  96  38  65 -39.2  .997 -39.6
W. VanLandingham  1996 SF  N    32  32 181.2 196 123 109  78  97 -25.8  .948 -32.9
Mark Leiter       1997 PHI N    31  31 182.2 216 132 115  64 148 -36.3  .992 -37.4
Andy Larkin       1998 FLA N    17  14  74.2 101  87  80  55  43 -43.8  .982 -45.5
Micah Bowie       1999 ATL-CHN  14  11  51    81  60  58  34  41 -32.0 1.004 -31.7
Ruben Quevedo     2000 CHI N    21  15  88    96  81  73  54  65 -32.5  .941 -37.9
Bobby Jones       2001 SD  N    33  33 195   250 137 111  38 113 -35.6  .906 -50.8
Jose Cabrera      2002 MIL N    50  11 103.1 131  84  78  36  61 -33.6 1.007 -33.0
Shawn Estes       2003 CHI N    29  28 152.1 182 113  97  83 103 -36.1 1.004 -35.6
Jose Acevedo      2004 CIN N    39  27 157.2 188 108 104  45 117 -25.7  .945 -32.2

It's not often a pitcher has the opportunity to repeat as his league's worst pitcher, but Bill Greif, Terry Mulholland, Jaime Navarro and Bruce Ruffin managed it. Six pitchers made both the best and the worst list: Vida Blue, Steve Carlton, Denny McLain, Jose Rijo, Mike Scott and Frank Viola.

The career leaders in park-adjusted runs from 1960 to 2004:

Name                 G   GS   IP      H    R   ER   BB    K  A/BPF
Roger Clemens      640  639 4493   3846 1748 1588 1458 4317  696.5
Greg Maddux        608  604 4181.1 3843 1563 1370  871 2916  553.5
Randy Johnson      489  479 3368   2612 1303 1148 1302 4161  523.5
Pedro Martinez     388  321 2296   1746  766  691  615 2653  511.5
Tom Seaver         656  647 4782.2 3971 1674 1521 1390 3640  507.1
Jim Palmer         558  521 3948   3349 1395 1253 1311 2212  396.8
Bob Gibson         515  473 3808.2 3202 1385 1230 1297 3069  390.8 i
Bert Blyleven      692  685 4970   4632 2029 1830 1322 3701  388.6
Mike Mussina       413  413 2833.1 2675 1203 1131  637 2258  370.4
Curt Schilling     482  370 2812.2 2492 1101 1039  638 2745  365.5
Tom Glavine        570  570 3740.1 3583 1576 1429 1276 2245  343.3
Kevin Brown        473  463 3183   2972 1300 1132  882 2347  336.9
Gaylord Perry      777  690 5350.1 4938 2128 1846 1379 3534  313.7
Fergie Jenkins     664  594 4500.2 4142 1853 1669  997 3192  296.5
Steve Carlton      741  709 5217.1 4672 2130 1864 1833 4136  294.0
Dennis Eckersley  1071  361 3285.2 3076 1382 1278  738 2401  282.1
Bret Saberhagen    399  371 2562.2 2452 1036  952  471 1715  281.5
John Smoltz        602  361 2699.2 2327 1074  982  829 2398  277.5
Sandy Koufax       260  237 1807.2 1304  542  474  512 1910  276.8 i
Dave Stieb         443  412 2895.1 2572 1225 1106 1034 1669  265.8
David Cone         450  419 2898.2 2504 1222 1115 1137 2668  265.1
Jimmy Key          470  389 2591.2 2518 1104 1010  668 1538  254.1
Phil Niekro        864  716 5404.1 5044 2337 2012 1809 3342  250.5
Juan Marichal      471  457 3507.1 3153 1329 1126  709 2303  246.7
Kevin Appier       414  402 2595.1 2425 1168 1078  933 1994  245.2
 
i - incomplete

One slightly weird thing here: there are 5 pitchers with 500 or more runs, but none in the 400s.

The bottom:

Name                 G   GS   IP      H    R   ER   BB    K  A/BPF
Jack Fisher        373  258 1887   1985  988  861  567  965 -152.1 i
Mike Kekich        235  112  860.2  875  485  439  442  497 -135.6
Jaime Navarro      361  309 2055.1 2313 1206 1078  690 1113 -125.9
Bobby Witt         430  397 2465   2493 1449 1324 1375 1955 -121.7
Pete Broberg       206  134  963    942  552  488  478  536 -121.3
Tom Griffin        401  191 1494.2 1407  762  676  769 1054 -118.7
Jimmy Haynes       227  203 1200.2 1358  778  717  601  762 -117.6
Mike LaCoss        415  243 1739.2 1786  885  777  725  783 -116.9
Kevin Jarvis       174  114  749.1  894  536  494  248  438 -112.4
Brian Williams     256   59  595.1  655  401  355  332  397 -106.9
Andy Hawkins       280  249 1558.1 1574  815  731  612  706 -106.4
Bill Krueger       301  164 1194.1 1305  685  577  493  639 -106.1
Bill Greif         231   97  715.2  747  402  351  287  442 -106.0
Todd Van Poppel    359   98  907    944  587  562  461  711 -105.1
Sean Bergman       196  117  750.1  912  489  440  272  455 -101.6
Blue Moon Odom     295  229 1509   1362  708  620  788  857 -100.6
Wade Blasingame    222  128  863.2  891  486  434  372  512  -97.4
Randy Lerch        253  164 1099.1 1232  612  553  432  507  -97.0
Jay Hook           139   94  660.2  720  425  383  226  346  -95.3 i
Al Jackson         294  181 1371.1 1419  711  601  399  725  -95.2 i
Jesse Jefferson    237  144 1085.2 1151  642  580  520  522  -95.1
Lew Krausse        321  167 1283.2 1205  635  571  493  721  -94.3
Dan Spillner       556  123 1492.2 1585  786  699  605  878  -93.3
Bob Knepper        445  413 2708   2737 1258 1106  857 1473  -93.1
Terry Mulholland   631  332 2513.2 2765 1363 1231  663 1306  -92.5
 
i - incomplete

Value Added Relief Pitching

Up until now, I've been concentrating on overall runs, which has meant that most of the pitchers mentioned have been starters. But what about relievers?

Looking at only relief appearances, here are the top seasons in park-adjusted VA pitching runs by relievers from 1960 to 2004:

Name              Year Team      G  GS  IP    H   R   ER  BB   K A/BPF
John Hiller       1973 DET A    65   0 125.1  89  21  20  39 124  51.8
Mark Eichhorn     1986 TOR A    69   0 157   105  32  30  45 166  50.5
Doug Corbett      1980 MIN A    73   0 136.1 102  31  30  42  89  44.6
Jim Kern          1979 TEX A    71   0 143    99  35  25  62 136  42.3
Mariano Rivera    1996 NY  A    61   0 107.2  73  25  25  34 130  41.5
Rich Gossage      1977 PIT N    72   0 133    78  27  24  49 151  40.7
Mudcat Grant      1970 OAK-PIT  80   0 135.1 112  29  28  32  58  37.9
G. Hernandez      1984 DET A    80   0 140.1  96  30  30  36 112  37.7
Bill Campbell     1977 BOS A    69   0 140   112  48  46  60 114  37.3
Keith Foulke      1999 CHI A    67   0 105.1  72  28  26  21 123  37.0
Rich Gossage      1975 CHI A    62   0 141.2  99  32  29  70 130  35.8
Lindy McDaniel    1960 STL N    65   2 116.1  85  28  27  24 105  34.1
Stu Miller        1961 SF  N    63   0 122    95  41  36  37  89  33.5
Brad Lidge        2004 HOU N    80   0  94.2  57  21  20  30 157  32.8
Bruce Sutter      1977 CHI N    62   0 107.1  69  21  16  23 129  32.7
Mike Marshall     1973 MON N    92   0 179   163  62  53  75 124  32.6
Dan Quisenberry   1983 KC  A    69   0 139   118  35  30  11  48  32.6
Jeff Nelson       1995 SEA A    62   0  78.2  58  21  19  27  96  32.2
Eric Gagne        2003 LA  N    77   0  82.1  37  12  11  20 137  32.2
Tom Gordon        2004 NY  A    80   0  89.2  56  23  22  23  96  31.5
Bob Stanley       1982 BOS A    48   0 168.1 161  60  58  50  83  31.3
Aurelio Lopez     1979 DET A    61   0 127    95  37  34  51 106  31.2
Bruce Sutter      1984 STL N    71   0 122.2 109  26  21  23  77  30.2
Jeff Zimmerman    1999 TEX A    65   0  87.2  50  24  23  23  67  30.2
Rheal Cormier     2003 PHI N    65   0  84.2  54  18  16  25  67  30.2

Not a lot of modern closers on this list. Instead, we see it dominated by old-school relief pitchers (the type that pitched 125+ innings a season back when men were men and Tony LaRussa was a minor league infielder) as well as modern set-up men.

The worst:

Name              Year Team      G  GS  IP    H   R   ER  BB   K A/BPF
J. Klippstein     1961 WAS A    42   1  71.2  83  59  54  43  41 -31.4
Dave Tomlin       1978 CIN N    57   0  62.1  88  54  40  30  32 -29.9
Jim Todd          1979 OAK A    51   0  81   108  66  59  51  26 -29.6
John Davis        1988 CHI A    34   1  63.2  77  58  47  50  37 -29.6
Vic Darensbourg   1999 FLA N    56   0  34.2  50  36  34  21  16 -28.5
John Riedling     2004 CIN N    70   0  77.2  90  54  44  40  46 -27.7
Rich Thompson     1985 CLE A    57   0  80    95  63  56  48  30 -27.4
Jaret Wright      2003 SDN-ATL  50   0  56.1  76  46  46  31  50 -27.2
Les Lancaster     1992 DET A    41   1  86.2 101  66  61  51  35 -27.0
Lloyd Allen       1973 CAL-TEX  28   5  49.2  73  69  52  44  29 -26.5
Larry Sherry      1967 DET-HOU  49   0  68.2  88  48  42  20  52 -26.1
Mark Petkovsek    2001 TEX A    55   0  76.2 103  61  57  28  42 -26.1
Ralph Botting     1979 CAL A    12   1  29.2  46  30  29  15  22 -25.9
Dave Hamilton     1980 OAK A    21   1  30    44  39  38  28  23 -25.7
Norm Charlton     1997 SEA A    71   0  69.1  89  59  56  47  55 -25.7
Jose Bautista     1995 SF  N    52   6 100.2 120  77  72  26  45 -25.6
Tom Hume          1984 CIN N    54   8 113.1 142  83  71  41  59 -25.5
Don Elston        1961 CHI N    58   0  93.1 108  64  58  45  59 -25.4
Jim Poole         1997 SF  N    63   0  49.1  73  44  39  25  26 -24.9
Kyle Farnsworth   2002 CHI N    45   0  46.2  53  47  38  24  46 -24.5
Pete Burnside     1963 BAL-WS2  44   1  74.2  95  53  50  26  29 -24.3
Ron Davis         1986 MIN-CHN  53   0  58.2  86  60  56  32  40 -24.2
Darren Holmes     2000 3 Teams  14   0  15.1  30  25  25   9  13 -23.9
Juan Agosto       1991 STL N    72   0  86    92  52  46  39  34 -23.5
Jack Baldschun    1965 PHI N    65   0  99   102  53  42  42  81 -23.2

Once again, the Value Added stats only includes the games pitched in relief that year.

The leaders in park adjusted runs in each year:

Name              Year Team      G  GS  IP    H   R   ER  BB   K A/BPF
Russ Kemmerer     1960 CHI A    36   7 120.2 111  45  40  45  76  17.3
Terry Fox         1961 DET A    39   0  57.1  42  12   9  16  32  21.6
Dick Radatz       1962 BOS A    62   0 124.2  95  32  31  40 144  29.1
Dick Radatz       1963 BOS A    66   0 132.1  94  31  29  51 162  26.5
Dick Radatz       1964 BOS A    79   0 157   103  44  40  58 181  29.2
Stu Miller        1965 BAL A    67   0 119.1  87  26  25  32 104  29.8
Jack Aker         1966 KC  A    66   0 113    81  27  25  28  68  23.5
Don McMahon       1967 BOS-CHA  63   0 109.1  68  29  24  40  84  21.3
Wilbur Wood       1968 CHI A    88   2 159   127  39  33  33  74  21.6
Ken Tatum         1969 CAL A    45   0  86.1  51  13  13  39  65  29.9
Mudcat Grant      1970 OAK A    72   0 123.1 104  26  25  30  54  33.4
Ken Sanders       1971 MIL A    83   0 136.1 111  35  29  34  80  28.8
Sparky Lyle       1972 NY  A    59   0 107.2  84  25  23  29  75  17.8
John Hiller       1973 DET A    65   0 125.1  89  21  20  39 124  51.8
Tom Murphy        1974 MIL A    70   0 123    97  27  26  51  47  27.2
Rich Gossage      1975 CHI A    62   0 141.2  99  32  29  70 130  35.8
Mark Littell      1976 KC  A    60   1 104    68  26  24  60  92  23.3
Bill Campbell     1977 BOS A    69   0 140   112  48  46  60 114  37.3
Rich Gossage      1978 NY  A    63   0 134.1  87  41  30  59 122  29.1
Jim Kern          1979 TEX A    71   0 143    99  35  25  62 136  42.3
Doug Corbett      1980 MIN A    73   0 136.1 102  31  30  42  89  44.6
Rollie Fingers    1981 MIL A    47   0  78    55   9   9  13  61  24.4
Bob Stanley       1982 BOS A    48   0 168.1 161  60  58  50  83  31.3
Dan Quisenberry   1983 KC  A    69   0 139   118  35  30  11  48  32.6
G. Hernandez      1984 DET A    80   0 140.1  96  30  30  36 112  37.7
Steve Ontiveros   1985 OAK A    39   0  74.2  45  17  16  19  36  27.1
Mark Eichhorn     1986 TOR A    69   0 157   105  32  30  45 166  50.5
Dennis Eckersley  1987 OAK A    54   2 115.2  99  41  39  17 113  28.7
Paul Mirabella    1988 MIL A    38   0  60    44  12  11  21  33  19.1
Jeff Montgomery   1989 KC  A    63   0  92    66  16  14  25  94  25.2
Dennis Eckersley  1990 OAK A    63   0  73.1  41   9   5   4  73  28.8
Mike Flanagan     1991 BAL A    64   1  98.1  84  27  26  25  55  30.1
Dennis Eckersley  1992 OAK A    69   0  80    62  17  17  11  93  27.6
Jeff Montgomery   1993 KC  A    69   0  87.1  65  22  22  23  66  23.2
Mark Eichhorn     1994 BAL A    43   0  71    62  19  17  19  35  22.0
Jeff Nelson       1995 SEA A    62   0  78.2  58  21  19  27  96  32.2
Mariano Rivera    1996 NY  A    61   0 107.2  73  25  25  34 130  41.5
Doug Jones        1997 MIL A    75   0  80.1  62  20  18   9  82  24.9
Michael Jackson   1998 CLE A    69   0  64    43  11  11  13  55  27.9
Keith Foulke      1999 CHI A    67   0 105.1  72  28  26  21 123  37.0
Derek Lowe        2000 BOS A    74   0  91.1  90  27  26  22  79  25.1
Arthur Rhodes     2001 SEA A    71   0  68    46  14  13  12  83  24.8
J.C. Romero       2002 MIN A    81   0  81    62  17  17  36  76  26.9
Brendan Donnelly  2003 ANA A    63   0  74    55  14  13  24  79  29.3
Tom Gordon        2004 NY  A    80   0  89.2  56  23  22  23  96  31.5
Name              Year Team      G  GS  IP     H   R  ER  BB   K A/BPF
Lindy McDaniel    1960 STL N    65   2 116.1  85  28  27  24 105  34.1
Stu Miller        1961 SF  N    63   0 122    95  41  36  37  89  33.5
Roy Face          1962 PIT N    63   0  91    74  23  19  18  45  21.8
J. Klippstein     1963 PHI N    49   1 112    80  28  24  46  86  23.1
Sammy Ellis       1964 CIN N    52   5 122.1 101  38  35  28 125  21.5
Bobby Bolin       1965 SF  N    45  13 163   125  51  50  56 135  23.7
Phil Regan        1966 LA  N    65   0 116.2  85  24  21  24  88  24.6
Ted Abernathy     1967 CIN N    70   0 106.1  63  19  15  41  88  23.0
Phil Regan        1968 LAN-CHN  73   0 134.2 119  39  34  25  67  10.1
Tug McGraw        1969 NY  N    42   4 100.1  89  31  25  47  92  20.5
Dick Selma        1970 PHI N    73   0 134.1 108  42  41  59 153  28.5
Tug McGraw        1971 NY  N    51   1 111    73  22  21  41 109  30.1
Mike Marshall     1972 MON N    65   0 116    82  26  23  47  95  25.8
Mike Marshall     1973 MON N    92   0 179   163  62  53  75 124  32.6
Dale Murray       1974 MON N    32   0  69.2  46  12   8  23  31  22.2
Rawly Eastwick    1975 CIN N    58   0  90    77  26  26  25  61  20.7
Ron Reed          1976 PHI N    59   4 128    88  39  35  32  96  22.6
Rich Gossage      1977 PIT N    72   0 133    78  27  24  49 151  40.7
Gene Garber       1978 PHI-ATL  65   0 117    84  32  28  24  85  23.6
Kent Tekulve      1979 PIT N    94   0 134.1 109  46  41  49  75  25.6
Tug McGraw        1980 PHI N    57   0  92.1  62  16  15  23  75  27.6
Joe Sambito       1981 HOU N    49   0  63.2  43  17  13  22  41  17.2
Steve Bedrosian   1982 ATL N    64   3 137.2 102  39  37  57 123  23.3
Tom Niedenfuer    1983 LA  N    66   0  94.2  55  22  20  29  66  24.6
Bruce Sutter      1984 STL N    71   0 122.2 109  26  21  23  77  30.2
Tim Burke         1985 MON N    78   0 120.1  86  32  32  44  87  21.1
Todd Worrell      1986 STL N    74   0 103.2  86  29  24  41  73  20.3
Andy McGaffigan   1987 MON N    69   0 120.1 105  38  32  42 100  25.2
John Franco       1988 CIN N    70   0  86    60  18  15  27  46  18.8
Rob Dibble        1989 CIN N    74   0  99    62  23  23  39 141  27.6
Jeff Brantley     1990 SF  N    55   0  86.2  77  18  15  33  61  22.2
Juan Berenguer    1991 ATL N    49   0  64.1  43  18  16  20  53  17.7
Mel Rojas         1992 MON N    68   0 100.2  71  17  16  34  70  28.4
Pedro Martinez    1993 LA  N    65   2 107    76  34  31  57 119  28.0
Todd Jones        1994 HOU N    48   0  72.2  52  23  22  26  63  19.1
Curt Leskanic     1995 COL N    76   0  98    83  38  37  33 107  25.9
Trevor Hoffman    1996 SD  N    70   0  88    50  23  22  31 111  23.9
Jeff Shaw         1997 CIN N    78   0  94.2  79  26  25  12  74  22.6
Trevor Hoffman    1998 SD  N    66   0  73    41  12  12  21  86  26.4
Danny Graves      1999 CIN N    75   0 111    90  42  38  49  69  30.0
Gabe White        2000 CIN-COL  68   0  84    64  23  22  15  84  24.7
Steve Kline       2001 STL N    89   0  75    53  16  15  29  54  25.0
Octavio Dotel     2002 HOU N    83   0  97.1  58  21  20  27 118  27.2
Eric Gagne        2003 LA  N    77   0  82.1  37  12  11  20 137  32.2
Brad Lidge        2004 HOU N    80   0  94.2  57  21  20  30 157  32.8

No player has led their league more than three times. Those who did it three times include Dennis Eckersley, Rich Gossage, Tug McGraw and Dick Radatz.

The trailers in park adjusted runs in each year:

Name              Year Team      G  GS  IP    H   R   ER  BB   K A/BPF
Duke Maas         1960 NY  A    35   1  70.1  70  44  32  35  28 -12.9
J. Klippstein     1961 WAS A    42   1  71.2  83  59  54  43  41 -31.4
Arnold Earley     1962 BOS A    38   3  68.1  76  53  44  46  59 -15.1
Pete Burnside     1963 BAL-WS2  44   1  74.2  95  53  50  26  29 -24.3
Jack Lamabe       1964 BOS A    39  25 177.1 235 123 116  57 109 -13.8
Steve Ridzik      1965 WAS A    63   0 109.2 108  61  49  43  72 -16.7
Dick Radatz       1966 BOS-CLE  55   0  75.2  73  43  39  45  68 -16.5
Ed Connolly       1967 CLE A    15   4  49.1  63  46  41  34  45 -22.0
Bobby Locke       1968 CAL A    29   0  36.1  51  29  26  13  21 -19.5
Dennis Higgins    1969 WAS A    55   0  85.1  79  42  33  56  71 -15.4
John O'Donoghue   1970 MIL A    25   0  23.1  29  15  13   9  13 -16.1
Ron Perranoski    1971 MIN-DET  47   0  60.2  76  48  37  31  29 -22.6
Tom Burgmeier     1972 KC  A    51   0  55.1  67  32  26  33  18 -21.7
Lloyd Allen       1973 CAL-TEX  28   5  49.2  73  69  52  44  29 -26.5
Darold Knowles    1974 OAK A    45   1  53.1  61  29  25  35  18 -16.3
Fred Beene        1975 CLE A    19   1  46.2  63  42  36  25  20 -20.1
Tom Murphy        1976 MIL-BOS  52   0  99.1 116  61  46  34  39 -16.5
Sid Monge         1977 CAL-CLE  37   0  51.1  61  37  31  33  29 -16.7
Pablo Torrealba   1978 CHI A    25   3  57.1  69  37  30  39  23 -16.7
Jim Todd          1979 OAK A    51   0  81   108  66  59  51  26 -29.6
Dave Hamilton     1980 OAK A    21   1  30    44  39  38  28  23 -25.7
Bob Lacey         1981 CLE-TEX  15   0  22.1  37  21  19   3  11 -15.4
John Pacella      1982 NYA-MIN  24   2  61.2  74  56  50  46  22 -21.5
Mark Clear        1983 BOS A    48   0  96   101  71  67  68  81 -17.9
Dave Beard        1984 SEA A    43   0  76    88  56  49  33  40 -22.0
Rich Thompson     1985 CLE A    57   0  80    95  63  56  48  30 -27.4
Brian Fisher      1986 NY  A    62   0  96.2 105  61  53  37  67 -17.0
Bob Shirley       1987 NYA-KCA  15   1  41.1  46  32  29  22  13 -14.4
John Davis        1988 CHI A    34   1  63.2  77  58  47  50  37 -29.6
Bob Stanley       1989 BOS A    43   0  79.1 102  54  43  26  32 -14.0
Rob Murphy        1990 BOS A    68   0  57    85  46  40  32  54 -19.2
Gene Nelson       1991 OAK A    44   0  48.2  60  38  37  23  23 -22.4
Les Lancaster     1992 DET A    41   1  86.2 101  66  61  51  35 -27.0
Neal Heaton       1993 NY  A    18   0  27    34  19  18  11  15 -13.2
Greg Harris       1994 BOS-NYA  38   0  50.2  64  49  45  26  48 -19.5
Joe Boever        1995 DET A    60   0  98.2 128  74  70  44  71 -20.9
Keith Shepherd    1996 BAL A    13   0  20.2  31  27  20  18  17 -18.3
Norm Charlton     1997 SEA A    71   0  69.1  89  59  56  47  55 -25.7
James Baldwin     1998 CHI A    37  24 159   176 103  94  60 108 -16.8
Paul Assenmacher  1999 CLE A    55   0  33    50  32  30  17  29 -13.9
Allen Watson      2000 NY  A    17   0  22    30  25  25  18  20 -17.3
Mark Petkovsek    2001 TEX A    55   0  76.2 103  61  57  28  42 -26.1
Jesus Colome      2002 TB  A    32   0  41.1  56  41  38  33  33 -20.9
Jay Powell        2003 TEX A    51   0  58.2  75  58  51  34  40 -19.8
Mike DeJean       2004 BAL A    37   0  39.2  49  29  27  28  36 -17.4
Name              Year Team      G  GS  IP     H   R  ER  BB   K A/BPF
Don McMahon       1960 MIL N    48   0  63.2  66  48  42  32  50 -17.4
Don Elston        1961 CHI N    58   0  93.1 108  64  58  45  59 -25.4
Bob Anderson      1962 CHI N    57   4 107.2 111  70  60  60  82 -15.3
Ed Roebuck        1963 LA  N    29   0  40.1  54  25  19  21  26 -15.2
Tommie Sisk       1964 PIT N    42   1  61.1  91  47  42  29  35 -16.3
Jack Baldschun    1965 PHI N    65   0  99   102  53  42  42  81 -23.2
Ron Taylor        1966 HOU N    36   1  64.2  89  47  41  10  29 -17.1
Hal Woodeshick    1967 STL N    36   0  41.2  41  29  24  28  20 -21.1
Ted Davidson      1968 CIN-ATL  27   0  28.1  37  20  20  11  10 -15.3
Gary Wagner       1969 PHI N     9   2  19.1  31  22  17   7   8 -15.3
Don Cardwell      1970 NYN-ATL  32   3  48    62  42  41  19  24 -21.3
Claude Raymond    1971 MON N    37   0  53.2  81  34  28  25  29 -13.9
Ed Acosta         1972 SD  N    46   2  89   105  49  44  30  53 -18.0
Gary Ross         1973 SD  N    58   0  76.1  93  51  46  33  44 -19.9
Jesus Hernaiz     1974 PHI N    27   0  41.1  53  31  27  25  16 -15.4
Darold Knowles    1975 CHI N    58   0  88.1 107  61  57  36  63 -13.7
Larry Hardy       1976 HOU N    15   0  21.2  34  19  17  10  10 -16.8
Dave Wehrmeister  1977 SD  N    30   6  69.2  81  53  47  44  32 -20.2
Dave Tomlin       1978 CIN N    57   0  62.1  88  54  40  30  32 -29.9
Rollie Fingers    1979 SD  N    54   0  83.2  91  47  42  37  65 -19.7
Fred Norman       1980 MON N    48   8  98    96  50  45  40  58 -12.2
Bobby Sprowl      1981 HOU N    15   1  28.2  40  20  19  14  18 -14.5
Frank LaCorte     1982 HOU N    55   0  76.1  71  44  38  46  51 -13.7
Ben Hayes         1983 CIN N    60   0  69.1  82  53  50  37  44 -19.4
Tom Hume          1984 CIN N    54   8 113.1 142  83  71  41  59 -25.5
Doug Sisk         1985 NY  N    42   0  73    86  48  43  40  26 -18.3
Jay Baller        1986 CHI N    36   0  53.2  58  37  32  28  42 -15.9
Barry Jones       1987 PIT N    32   0  43.1  55  34  27  23  28 -15.9
Steve Peters      1988 STL N    44   0  45    57  34  32  22  30 -18.9
Jeff Robinson     1989 PIT N    50  19 141.1 161  92  72  59  95 -20.3
Frank DiPino      1990 STL N    62   0  81    92  45  41  31  49 -15.2
Juan Agosto       1991 STL N    72   0  86    92  52  46  39  34 -23.5
Barry Jones       1992 PHI-NYN  61   0  69.2  85  46  44  35  30 -19.4
Anthony Young     1993 NY  N    39  10 100.1 103  62  42  42  62 -13.3
Richie Lewis      1994 FLA N    45   0  54    62  44  34  38  45 -15.5
Jose Bautista     1995 SF  N    52   6 100.2 120  77  72  26  45 -25.6
Mark Small        1996 HOU N    16   0  24.1  33  23  16  13  16 -15.1
Jim Poole         1997 SF  N    63   0  49.1  73  44  39  25  26 -24.9
Shayne Bennett    1998 MON N    62   0  91.2  97  61  56  45  59 -18.6
Vic Darensbourg   1999 FLA N    56   0  34.2  50  36  34  21  16 -28.5
Rich Rodriguez    2000 NY  N    32   0  37    59  40  32  15  18 -21.7
Alan Embree       2001 SF  N    22   0  20    34  26  25  10  25 -24.7
Kyle Farnsworth   2002 CHI N    45   0  46.2  53  47  38  24  46 -24.5
Jaret Wright      2003 SDN-ATL  50   0  56.1  76  46  46  31  50 -27.2
John Riedling     2004 CIN N    70   0  77.2  90  54  44  40  46 -27.7

The only players to trail their leagues twice are Darold Knowles and Barry Jones.

The players who both led and trailed their leagues are Rollie Fingers, Johnny Klippstein, Don McMahon, Tom Murphy, Dick Radatz and Bob Stanley.

I should point out that my method does not attempt to put the inning into context. A run saved in the 5th inning of a 19-3 blowout counts as much as a run saved in the 9th inning of a 2-1 game. As a result, this is perhaps not the best way to evaluate relief pitchers. For that, I recommend Doug Drinen's essay ("New Ways to Spell Relief") in the 1998 Big Bad Baseball Annual. He determines the probability that a team will win a game from every situation (for example: top of the sixth, man on first and down by two) encountered in a game. Perhaps, you can see where he's going with this; in any case, it's his essay, not mine, and I'll let you read it for yourself.

The top career relievers:

Name                 G   GS   IP      H    R   ER   BB    K  A/BPF
Mariano Rivera     586   10  728.1  580  211  197  197  648  203.5
Rich Gossage      1002   37 1809.1 1497  670  605  732 1502  185.6
Lee Smith         1022    6 1289.1 1133  475  434  486 1251  161.8
Keith Foulke       501    8  660.1  519  232  223  156  625  161.1
Rollie Fingers     944   37 1701.1 1474  615  549  492 1299  159.7
Jesse Orosco      1252    4 1295   1055  512  455  581 1179  155.2
Hoyt Wilhelm       638   15 1230.2  898  388  315  365  965  146.9 i
Tom Henke          642    0  789.2  607  252  234  255  861  146.9
Kent Tekulve      1050    0 1436.1 1305  526  455  491  779  145.0
Trevor Hoffman     696    0  764.2  575  257  233  225  861  143.2
Tug McGraw         820   35 1497.1 1305  581  513  569 1091  138.0
Dennis Eckersley   798   88 1376.2 1203  533  492  325 1263  133.2
Michael Jackson   1005    7 1188.1  983  492  451  464 1006  129.8
Steve Reed         803    0  838    770  360  327  274  615  123.9
John Hiller        545   43 1242   1040  438  391  535 1036  122.4
Dan Quisenberry    674    0 1043.1 1064  356  320  162  379  121.6
Armando Benitez    628    0  654    428  223  207  335  826  121.3
Billy Wagner       509    0  552.2  364  165  155  197  753  120.9
John Wetteland     618   17  765    616  287  249  252  804  120.4
Troy Percival      579    0  586.2  393  213  195  253  680  117.7
Mark Eichhorn      556    0  847.2  785  300  272  256  624  113.8
Bruce Sutter       661    0 1042.1  879  370  328  309  861  111.3
Randy Myers        728   12  884.2  758  338  314  396  884  105.4
Tom Gordon         550   82 1141.1  922  493  457  513 1142  104.6
Mike Marshall      723   24 1386.2 1281  548  484  514  880  102.0
 
i - incomplete

The bottom career relievers:

Name                 G   GS   IP      H    R   ER   BB    K  A/BPF
Jerry Johnson      365   39  770.2  779  422  369  389  489  -60.2
Jack Baldschun     457    0  704    687  335  289  298  555  -55.7
Jim Todd           270    8  511    541  283  240  239  194  -51.4
Steve Shields      102    6  219    269  146  128   91  126  -48.3
Mike Kekich        235  112  860.2  875  485  439  442  497  -47.3
Dale Murray        518    1  902.1  976  448  386  329  400  -47.1
Scott Bailes       343   59  679.2  758  423  374  256  351  -46.0
Juan Agosto        543    2  626.1  639  313  279  248  307  -46.0
Steve Hargan       354  215 1632   1593  810  711  614  891  -45.9
Jim Crawford       181   14  431.1  477  252  211  182  276  -42.7
Brian Williams     238   41  487    552  352  308  286  339  -41.8
Frank LaCorte      251   30  475.1  448  291  267  254  365  -41.8
Ron Herbel         331   79  894    945  442  380  285  447  -41.6
Gary Ross          282   58  708.2  758  356  308  287  374  -40.8
Jeff Kaiser         50    0   52     68   60   53   46   38  -40.7
Dan McGinn         210   28  408.2  442  259  232  225  293  -38.4
Ken MacKenzie      129    1  208.1  231  129  111   63  142  -38.3
Jack Hamilton      218   65  611.2  597  357  308  348  357  -37.8
Arnold Earley      223   10  381.1  400  240  190  184  310  -37.1
Terry Mulholland   507  208 1693   1913  971  865  474  879  -36.6
Mike Barlow        133    2  246.2  279  147  127  104   96  -36.5
Jesse Jefferson    203  110  862    924  518  475  435  404  -35.3
Rocky Biddle       194   37  356    378  241  209  162  254  -35.1
Larry Hardy         94    1  126    171   83   74   56   70  -35.0
Dwayne Henry       256    1  334.2  298  184  173  216  275  -34.9

Jeff Kaiser managed to place on the list above despite pitching only 52 innings in his career.

Value Added Pitching Versus Runs Below Average

When looking at base running and batting, I compared VA results to a linear weight method. For pitching, I decided to compare the results to Runs Below Average. This is a common way of evaluating pitchers and simply computes how many fewer (or more) runs each pitcher allowed compared to an average pitcher over the same number of innings. In keeping with our Value Added Pitching Runs, we have reversed the sign of the result so positive results are better than negative ones.

Here are the pitchers (both starters and relievers) with much higher Value Added Pitching Runs than Runs Below Average.

Name              Year  Team     G  GS  IP     H   R  ER  BB   K  VARP   RBA VA-RB
Stu Miller        1961 SF  N    63   0 122    95  41  36  37  89  34.1  21.0  13.1
Javier Lopez      2004 COL N    64   0  40.2  45  34  34  26  20  -0.0 -12.9  12.9
Gene Brabender    1970 MIL A    29  21 128.2 127  94  86  79  76 -21.4 -34.2  12.8
John Hiller       1973 DET A    65   0 125.1  89  21  20  39 124  51.6  38.9  12.7
Dennis Cook       1996 TEX A    60   0  70.1  53  34  32  35  64  20.9   8.4  12.6
Rob Gardner       1966 NY  N    41  17 133.2 147  82  76  64  74  -9.2 -21.2  12.1
Bob Owchinko      1979 SD  N    42  20 149.1 144  73  62  55  66   9.2  -2.9  12.1
Lee Smith         1981 CHI N    40   1  66.2  57  31  26  31  50   9.8  -2.2  11.9
Keith Atherton    1985 OAK A    56   0 104.2  89  51  50  42  77  14.3   2.5  11.8
Larry Gura        1983 KC  A    34  31 200.1 220 119 109  76  57  -6.8 -18.5  11.6
Stan Thomas       1975 TEX A    46   1  81.1  72  36  28  34  46  14.6   3.0  11.6
Cecilio Guante    1983 PIT N    49   0 100.1  90  45  37  46  82  12.6   0.9  11.6
Ray Moore         1960 CHA-WS1  51   0  86.1  68  37  34  38  32  16.4   5.2  11.3
Len Barker        1983 CLE-ATL  30  30 182.2 181 109  99  66 126  -7.8 -18.8  11.0
Rick Sutcliffe    1992 BAL A    36  36 237.1 251 123 118  74 109   2.1  -8.6  10.7
Steve Frey        1992 CAL A    51   0  45.1  39  18  18  22  24  14.5   3.9  10.6
Mike Holtz        2000 ANA A    61   0  41    37  26  23  18  40   9.1  -1.5  10.6
Mark Guthrie      1992 MIN A    54   0  75    59  27  24  23  76  19.6   9.2  10.5
Mike Marshall     1973 MON N    92   0 179   163  62  53  75 124  29.9  19.8  10.1
Bob Lacey         1977 OAK A    64   0 121.2 100  46  41  43  69  25.8  15.6  10.1

And the flip side of the coin:

Name              Year  Team     G  GS  IP     H   R  ER  BB   K  VARP   RBA VA-RB
Bob Wickman       1996 NYA-MIL  70   0  95.2 106  50  47  44  75  -9.4   7.6 -17.0
Dan Quisenberry   1987 KC  A    47   0  49    58  15  15  10  17  -4.4  12.0 -16.4
Mike Garman       1975 STL N    66   0  79    73  31  21  48  48  -9.7   5.3 -15.0
Giovanni Carrara  2002 LA  N    63   1  90.2  83  34  33  32  56  -3.7  10.9 -14.6
Phil Regan        1967 LA  N    55   3  96.1 108  38  32  32  53 -11.1   3.1 -14.2
Mike DeJean       2004 BAL-NYN  54   0  61    70  34  31  33  60 -14.4  -0.7 -13.7
Terry Adams       1998 CHI N    63   0  72.2  72  39  35  41  73 -15.3  -1.8 -13.5
Jim Ray           1970 HOU N    52   2 105    97  39  38  49  67   0.5  13.9 -13.4
Jason Grimsley    2003 KC  A    76   0  75    88  47  43  36  58 -19.6  -6.2 -13.4
Jack Baldschun    1962 PHI N    67   0 112.2  95  41  37  58  95   2.3  15.6 -13.3
Ron Kline         1965 WAS A    74   0  99.1 106  36  29  32  52  -5.6   7.6 -13.2
Don Nottebart     1967 CIN N    47   0  79.1  75  25  17  19  48  -4.3   8.8 -13.2
Jack Baldschun    1965 PHI N    65   0  99   102  53  42  42  81 -21.7  -8.7 -13.0
Rod Scurry        1982 PIT N    76   0 103.2  79  26  20  64  94   8.0  21.0 -13.0
Al Hrabosky       1979 KC  A    58   0  65    67  31  27  41  39  -9.7   3.1 -12.8
Jeff Reardon      1982 MON N    75   0 109    87  28  25  36  86   8.7  21.4 -12.7
Joe Beckwith      1980 LA  N    38   0  59.2  60  17  13  23  40  -2.8   9.7 -12.5
Danny Darwin      1982 TEX A    56   1  89    95  38  34  37  61  -6.0   6.5 -12.5
Terry Forster     1985 ATL N    46   0  59.1  49  22  15  28  37  -7.6   4.8 -12.5
Chuck McElroy     1999 COL-NYN  56   0  54    60  34  33  36  44 -16.6  -4.0 -12.5
Jose Santiago     2000 KC  A    45   0  69    70  33  30  26  44  -4.3   8.3 -12.5
Nelson Cruz       2002 HOU N    43   5  78.1  90  44  39  29  61 -17.7  -5.2 -12.5

Given that our approach is interesting primarily when pitchers inherit runners, it is not surprising that relievers dominate both lists.

Stu Miller in 1961 actually did much better than you might expect from looking at his pitching line. He inherited 71 runners that year, including 36 in scoring position, and permitted only 15 of them to score. On the other hand, he left games with 12 runners on base and 10 of those scored. Bob Wickman in 1996 permitted 34 of his 68 inherited runners to score. He also left 31 runners on base and only 6 of those scored. The only pitcher on the list who started all his games was Len Barker in 1983. He left 26 runners on base that season and 20 of them came around to score. Similar stories can be told for all of the pitchers on these lists. The ones on the top list kept more than their share of inherited runners from scoring and saw a high percentage of their bequeathed runners score. The opposite was true for the pitchers on the bottom list.

Seasonal and career Value Added pitching data for all players from 1960 to 2004 is here.

Summing Up

I believe that the various Value Added methods described in this article give us a more accurate portrayal of a player's contribution than other methods like Linear Weights and Runs Below Average. This is probably not too surprising since the Value Added method uses detailed play-by-play data while the methods I've been comparing them to use only seasonal totals. Does this mean that we should replace those other methods with ours, at least for seasons for which we have play-by-play data? No. Each approach gives us insight into different aspects of what happened. Value Added methods are a context-sensitive measurement system. By this, I mean that it takes into account what else was going on when a player got a home run or a strikeout. Linear Weight systems (at least the ones that don't make the mistake of including runs scored and RBIs in their formula) are primarily context-insensitive; they credit a player so much per hit or out, without knowing or caring the circumstances surrounding the play. So if Jones and Smith hit the same number of home runs in the same number of at-bats, but Jones hit 80% of his with men on and Smith hit 80% of his with the bases empty, VA will rate Jones much higher (all other things being equal) while Linear Weight methods will rate them even. Who is correct? It depends upon what you're interested in. If you were trying to determine what happened in a given year - why a team scored 100 fewer runs than you thought they should have or who a team's most valuable player was - you'd want to look at VA. On the other hand, if you're trying to determine the best player on a team or the one most likely to do well next season, I think Linear Weights would do a better job. Why? Because some of what VA measures could simply be luck. Hitting a lot of home runs is skill. It's not clear that hitting better with men in scoring position is also a skill (although you never know). Luck does play a part in each baseball season. As a result, there should be some measurement that gives us an insight into how luck affected the fortunes of each team. But since luck tends not to carry-over from one year to the next, it's good that there are other measurements that ignore it. All of which is a long-winded way of saying that there is a place in baseball analysis for both classes of measurements.

Clearly this article represents one of the first rather than the last word in applying this technique to play-by-play data. I had to make a lot of decisions about how to apply Gary's work, decisions that many of you may not have agreed with. Some of these I might not even agree with a few years from now. Many readers may want to give baserunners some percentage of the credit for advancing more than one base on a single, or for scoring on a sacrifice fly; others may want to discount the value (for a batter) or the penalty (for a pitcher) of errors; still others may like another method of determining park factors; and many (I know) will not agree with my positional adjustment. Over the next few years, there is a lot of research needed in this area. By that time, even more of this kind of data will be available. At the beginning of their quixotic journey, Retrosheet's goal was to have complete play-by-play accounts of all the games of the 20th century. This seemed absurd back in the 1980s. In the last decade, we have made unbelievable progress, and while I would still say that our goals are not realistic, it would not surprise me if we come very close to doing what we set out to do. In the meantime, I think that the baseball research community should be formulating some kind of plan of what to do with all this information.